Former Chipolopolo head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević, who is currently coaching Algerian club ES Sétif, has urged Zambian players to move to clubs where they will get regular playing time in order to strengthen the national team.

Micho emphasized that there should be a deliberate policy by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to ensure national team players join clubs where they can excel, rather than being neglected.

“There is a need to make a very serious plan that this mess of players going anyhow outside and then being neglected in a way needs to stop,” Micho suggested in an interview with ZNBC Radio 4. “A national team [policy] needs to be established so that players can cooperate with whoever is the agent of the players to ensure they are sent to the places where they will excel.”

Micho on Zambia’s AFCON campaign

Commenting on Zambia’s campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they were knocked out in the group stage after recording a 1-1 draw against Mali, a 0-0 draw against Comoros, and a 3-0 defeat to hosts Morocco, Micho said over-experimentation cost Chipolopolo.

“I was really surprised when I saw an announcement of the squad’s first 50 names. You openly, technically, ask yourself, what is going on here? Because for such a competition you need to have already a competitive team that goes, not try to experiment but directly to compete. So lessons learnt; if we have not passed through, let it be that lessons have been learnt,” Micho said.

Micho urged FAZ and the national team coach to start planning early for the 2027 AFCON, the Olympics, and the 2030 World Cup.

“I urge FAZ, I urge a coach wherever it is, and I urge all the Zambia football fraternity loving the game because brand called Chipolopolo is the face of a nation, and whatever was good needs to be kept, whatever was wrong needs to be corrected. And then a proper technical master plan needs to be made [so that they qualify not only for] 2027 Africa Cup of Nations but also to go to the 2028 Olympic Games in America and to go to the 2030 World Cup,” he advised.

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