Zambia national team interim coach George Lwandamina has described the 23 players selected for the March 31 friendly against Argentina as tried and “tested”.
Lwandamina will be without several key players from the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, including US Lecce winger Lameck Banda, German-based defender Lubambo Musonda, defender Frankie Musonda, striker Kennedy Musonda, midfielder Benson Sakala, veteran defender Stopilla Sunzu, and midfielder Kings Kangwa, who confirmed he is serving a four-match ban by CAF.
“Those who are going to Argentina are those who have been tested, those who have been playing in the national team, and those who are doing well in the continental games. So those are the players that we’ve picked from,” Lwandamina told reporters today at the UNILUS Sports Complex in Lusaka.
On facing the world champions, Lwandamina added, “It’ll be a very difficult task playing the world champions, and you know we have never even qualified for the World Cup, but it is a well-received invitation so that we expose our boys to that level of football. I’m sure it’ll be a platform for learning purposes: how to fight and how to play big names. That is the platform that we are going to, nothing more than that.”
Everybody expects Argentina to beat Zambia – Mweemba
Meanwhile, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president, Keith Mweemba, instructed the team not to feel pressured and encouraged them to give their best effort.
“They should not put themselves under unnecessary pressure. It’s not an embarrassment to lose. Zambia being beaten by Argentina. How can that be an embarrassment?” Mweemba said. “Everybody expects Argentina to beat Zambia, but I think the people should be able to see; is there something we’re seeing? How have we lost? I think that’s what is important.”
“We can lose. We can’t win all the games, but let’s lose with respect, with dignity. Let’s see the effort. Let’s have a team with discipline and see the effort on the field of play. We lose, hard luck, but we learn. Every setback is a success for me.”
Mweemba also disclosed that the Argentina FA is covering all expenses, including flight tickets, visas, and accommodation.
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