Zambia national team under-23 coach Oswald Mutapa has named a star-studded provisional squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers set to start in October this year.
Headlining the squad are European-born youngsters which include Manchester city under-23 defender Jadel Katongo, Cardiff City striker Chanka Zimba who is currently on loan to Newport County and Italy-based midfielder Mannah Chiwisa who plays for Atlanta FC.
The Football Association of Zambia-FAZ has told BOLA NEWS that the players are already in contact with the Football house and the naturalization process has since begun.
Other foreign-based young players that have also made the squad are Italian Serie A’s Lecce FC red hot winger Lameck Banda, Prince Mumba of NK Istra-Croatia), Miguel Chaiwa of Switzerland giants BSC Young Boys and Golden Mafwenta of Real Monarchs in the United states.
Speaking during the unveiling of the team at Football House this morning, Coach Mutapa thanked the Football Association of Zambia for appointing him as head coach of the under-23 national team and hopes that the Association will organize a friendly game for his charges before the qualifiers start.
I would like to thank the appointing Authority which is FAZ, for having confidence in me that I can lead the team, especially the under-23. The team that I will unveil goes into camp on the 18th of September for a one-week camp, hopefully, then the association would have organized a friendly match.
said Mutapa before unveiling the provisional squad comprising local based players.
Zambia is on bye and will only join the qualifiers in the second round away in Freetown on the weekend of October 21-23 before hosting Sierra Leone on October 29 in Lusaka.
The winner over the two legs will qualify for the final round that will be played in March 2023 where Egypt or the winner between Botswana and Eswatini await.
The U23 Africa Cup of Nations is set to be held in Morocco in June 2023 and will serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and Zambia will look to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 34 years.
Meanwhile, the provisional squad comprising only local-based players will enter camp on the 18th of September 2022 and begin preparations for the Sierra Leone clash next month.
FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Patrick Chooma (Prison Leopards), Levison Banda (Zesco United), Jeban Tembo (Red Arrows), Mukuka Chilufya (Shamuel)
(DEFENDERS)
John Chishimba (Zesco United), Emmanuel Bwalya Chembe, Andrew Phiri, Mathews Chabala (Nchanga Rangers), Christopher Katongo, Kingsley Hakwiya (Kansanshi Dynamos), Issah Kazembe (Indeni), Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows), Changwe Shikilwa (Power Dynamos), Amon Chulu (Nkana), Taonga Ngulube (Nangweshi FC), Chikondi Njobvu (Green Eagles)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Patrick Gondwe (Nkana), Johsua Mutale (Power Dynamos), Felix Banda (Napsa Stars), Muma Mumba (Kafue Eagles), Charles Majapa (Barcelona Academy), Golden Mashata (Green Buffaloes), Songa Chipyoka, Kasoma Luwawa (Zesco United), Emmanuel Mukosha (Green Eagles), Aaron Banda, Augustine Katongo (Kabwe Warriors), Emmanuel Mayungano (MUZA), Joseph ‘Sabobo’ Banda (Red Arrows)
(STRIKERS)
Reagan Mtonga (Power Dynamos), Jonathan Munalula (Forest Rangers), Jimmy Mukeya (Napsa Stars), Derrick Bulaya (Green Eagles), Enock Sakala Junior (Zesco United), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows), Kingstone Mutandwe (Barcelona Academy)
