Zambia’s Chipolopolo have arrived safely in Algeria ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the hosts on Friday.
The Zambian squad landed at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers on Sunday morning aboard an Air Algérie flight before travelling approximately 100 kilometres to Tizi Ouzou.
The team has since settled into its hotel, located about five kilometres from the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium, where Friday’s Group I encounter will be played.
Captain Fashion Sakala was among the foreign-based players who travelled from Lusaka on Saturday, alongside Libya-based Lameck Banda, Sudan-based Obino Chisala and David Hamansenya.
Tanzania-based Albert Kangwanda has also joined the squad in Algeria, while additional foreign-based players are expected to arrive on Monday.
Egypt-based duo David Simukonda and Pascal Phiri were among the first Zambia players to reach Algeria. The pair arrived at Houari Boumediene International Airport at 11:55 on Saturday on an EgyptAir flight and were received by Football Association of Zambia head of media and communications Nkweto Tembwe.
With the squad now assembled in Tizi Ouzou, the technical bench will focus initially on player recovery before stepping up preparations for the opening qualifier.
Zambia face a demanding start to their Group I campaign against an Algeria side playing at home, before returning to Zambia to host Togo at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on 29 September.
The Chipolopolo will be hoping to make a positive start in Algeria as they begin their bid to qualify for the 2027 AFCON finals.
