Friday, March 29, 2024

Nyirenda sweeps Chipolopolo clean of 2012 AFCON winning veterans

Zambia will for the first time since winning the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations tournament line-up a full strength Chipolopolo squad without any of the stars that lifted the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

Coach Wedson Nyirenda seems to have completed the axing of the revered 2012 AFCON winning stars after he announced his squad for the March Four Nations tournament which saw him not pick skipper Kennedy Mweene, Russia based defense kingpin Stopilla Sunzu and Chisamba Lungu who were the surviving veterans in the Chipolopolo’s most recent games.

Mweene has been an ever present stalwart in the Chipolopolo goal for over 11 years while Chisamba and Sunzu rose to prominence at the Gabon / Equatorial Guinea 2012 AFCON Tournament.

Wada Wada came into the Chipolopolo job failing to pick a win in his first three competitive matches against Nigeria at home (2 – 1), away against Cameroon  (1 – 1) and losing at home (1 – 0) to Mozambique.

It was clear he needed to change something in the team and he did by getting rid of some veterans who included then skipper Rainford Kalaba.

The change seemed to pay immediate dividends with back to back home and away victories against Algeria before losing away against Nigeria.

This was followed by a draw at home against Cameroon which saw Zambia go two games without a win.

Despite some sections of Chipolopolo fans protesting the leaving out of the ‘big boys’ Wada has now moved to quickly clean the Chipolopolo house of all the remaining 2012 heroes.

However, one veteran of the Gold winning team Chintu Kampamba has returned to the squad as Physical Trainer.

Worthy noting is the absence on the team list of 2017 CAF player of the year nominee Fackson Kapumbu who has been a fixture at left back for the past five years.

However, there is optimism in the new talent that will be on display for the Chipolopolo during the Four Nations Tournament to be played Ndola that includes players from the U20 class of 2017.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD FOR FOUR NATIONS TOURNAMENT

(GOALKEEPERS)
Toaster Nsabata (Zanaco), Allan Chibwe (Power Dynamos), Moses Mapulanga (Nkana)

(DEFENDERS)
Bornwell Silengo (Zesco United), Jimmy Nakena (Zanaco), Allan Kamwanga (Power Dynamos), Ziyo Tembo (Zanaco), Kedson Kamanga (Nkwazi), Solomon Sakala (Zesco United), Isaac Shamujompa (Buildcon), Simon Silwimba (Zesco United), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), Ngosa Nsunzu (Buildcon), John Mwangeni (Nkana)

(MIDFIELDERS)
Jack Chirwa (Green Buffaloes), Misheck Chaila (Zesco United), John Chin’andu (Zesco United), Larry Bwalya (Power Dynamos), Cletus Chama (Lusaka Dynamos), Mwila Phiri (Lusaka Dynamos), Charles Zulu (Zanaco), Ernest Mbewe (Zanaco), Lameck Banda (Zesco United), Salulani Phiri  (RSA), Rodrick Kabwe  (Ajax Capetown), Emmanuel Banda  (KV Oostende), Enock Mwepu  (Liefering), Augustine Mulenga  (Orlando Pirates)

(STRIKERS)
Chanda Mushili (Buildcon), Martin Phiri (Zanaco), Welcome Mulenga (Forest Rangers), Alex Ng’onga (Power Dynamos), Youremember Banda (Green Buffaloes), Lazarous Kambole (Zesco United), Brian Mwila (Buildcon), Fashion Sakala  (Spartak Moscow), Patson Daka  (Redbull Salzburg), Justin Shonga  (Orlando Pirates)

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23 Comments

  1. I feel the likes of stopila sunzu, kabaso chongo,Nathan sinkalaDonashano Malama,Evans kangwa,Emmanuel mbola,Kenneth kalunga and Edward Chilufya would have been included in the squad.these guys are the ones playing in their respective leagues he would have used this tournament to prepare a strong team for afcon qualifiers.some of the players would have been reserved for chan qualifier. Going by the current form of the players my squad could like this 1.Toaster Nsabata 2.Silwimba 3.Mbola 4. Stopila Sunzu 5.Kabaso chongo 6.Nathan Sinkala 7.Augustine Melenga 8.Mwepu 9.Brian MWILA 10.Emanuel Banda 11. Fashion Sakala.Subs Allan Chibwe ,Adrian CHAMA,Kapumbu,Solomon Sakala,Donashano Malama,Evans Kangwa,Edward Chilufya, Kenneth Kalunga.Ernest MBEWE,Shonga,Sate Sate,kambole,Charles Zulu, Cletus CHAMA and Alex Ng’onga.

  2. Off topic: if i was WADA, i would try a combination Emmanuel banda and mwepu both holding in central midfield. A 4-2-2-2 formation. Kubebafye ati “baiche, make sure you hold the center of the pitch and sit in front of the back four”…a combination of mobility, stamina, skill, creativity and passing accuracy. To me, everything about emmanuel banda suggests that he can be a good No.8 or 6. I know mwepu can play No.6. Remember that not all No.6 players have used sheer grit and steel to dominate the midfield in games. An example is, pirlo, bousquets, verrati and carrick,…..kubako creative sometimes. We can get a lot more from these players we have.

  3. congrats Ba wada for thinking abt the future. let’s c wat u ve for us thru these guys.I think these r the best players so for tho they r some up coming coz u can’t pik them all at a go.
    all the best Ba Wada.

    • When Kapumbu, is there you shout the loudest that the boy is useless, … he is the weak link in defence, etc, and the coach has dropped him. You want him back.

  4. I would have loved if Nathan Simkala was also given a chance coz he has still got some yes to play football since he is only 25

  5. Wedson Nyirenda is not good for our national team. With him at the helm or anywhere near the squad we shall not make it to Cameroun. Infact judging from the game against Zimbabwe, Namibia will sort us out in Afcon qualifiers.

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