Five U-20 players get U-23 call ups

Five members of the triumphant  2022 COSAFA U20 team have joined the Zambia U23 camp as it entered day two of training on Wednesday in Lusaka following the sides’ return from Liberia on Monday as the countdown to Saturday’s 2023 U23 AFCON second round, final leg qualifier against Sierra Leone’s gathers pace.

Osward Mutapa’s side hosts Sierra Leone at 15h00 on October 29 at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka tied at 1-1 from the first leg played in Monrovia on October 22.

All five call-ups were part of  Zambia  U23’s first full-day of training at Heroes Stadium since they flew back home late on Monday afternoon from Monrovia via Addis Ababa.

The drafted players are Zesco United forward Songa Chipokya, Red Arrows defender Happy Nsiku, Shamuel Academy midfielder and Zambia U20 captain Dominic Kanda.

Green Eagles’ Emmanuel Mukosha and Kafue Celtic defender Mathews Banda complete the list.

The five join their colleague and goalkeeper Jeban Tembo who made the trip to Liberia where he was between the sticks in Monrovia.

Meanwhile, Zambia U23’s training session at Heroes came 24 hours after holding their first practice at Edwin Imboela Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

“Yesterday (Tuesday) we had a recovery session after a long flight of two days. We just had to recover so I would say this is the first serious training that we have had,” Mutapa said.

There is some good news for Mutapa after Enock Sakala and John Kosamu who sustained knocks in the first leg against Sierra Leone both came through Wednesday’s training without a hitch.

But defender Brian Musema, who limped off in the 58th minute of the first leg, has been restricted to light training alone on the sidelines.

 “They are looking OK but with a little room to improve,” Mutapa said.

“We need to work extra hard than we did in Liberia.

“But for now, it is only Brian who is not in full training but the others are in full training and were all able to finish. They all did very well in training.”

The Winner this Saturday at Heroes will play the winner of Sunday’s tie between Egypt and Eswatini in the final round qualifier next March.

Egypt and Eswatini finished scoreless on October 23 heading into their final leg decider to be played in Alexandria on October 30.

Tickets for Saturday’s match are available from as low as K20 at WebTicket (Omega Mall in Northmead), and Pick n Pay outlets at Makeni Mall, Novare Great North Road Shopping Mall and Society Business Park.

(Credit: FAz Media)