Zambia U20 Men’s National Team tricky winger Joseph ‘Sabobo’ Banda has been knocked out of the TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations by an injury.
The Red Arrows winger failed to recover from a leg injury and hence will miss the continental showpiece.
Head coach Chisi Mbewe has since named his final 21-member squad for the tournament which kicks off tomorrow (Sunday) in Egypt.
Banda will be joined on the flight back home by striker Henry Mbuti, defender Lackson Tembo and former U17 COSAFA winners Moses Mulenga.
The 21-member squad will head to their tournament base in Alexandria after having spent eight days in Ismailia to acclimatize to the chilly conditions in Egypt.
The team will be completed by the arrival of Spanish based Peter ‘Evra’ Chikola and Israeli based Richard ‘Chungi’ Ngoma who arrive later today.
Zambia is in Group C alongside Tunisia, The Gambia and Benin.
The first match for Mbewe’s charges will be against Benin on Tuesday before facing The Gambia on Friday with the final match being a tie against Tunisia.
Top two teams in the group will qualify to the quarterfinals where a prestigious FIFA World Cup slot will be the prize for qualifying to the semi-finals.
FULL SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Jeban Tembo (Red Arrows), Levison Banda (Zesco United), Eric Makungu (Shamuel)
DEFENDERS
Lombe Mutale (Power Dynamos), Mathews Banda (Kafue Celtic), Amon Chulu (Nkana), Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows), Onesmas Chipango, (Shamuel), Gift Mphande (Athletico)
MIDFIELDERS
Dominic Kanda (Shamuel), Charles Mumba, Julius Kumwenda (Atletico), Ian Sindaye (Roan United), Songa Chipyoka (Zesco United), Lasmond Phiri (Blaze Academy), Richard Ngoma (Maccabi Netanya – Israel), Peter Chikola (Cadiz – Spain)
STRIKERS
Emmanuel Mukosha, Derrick Bulaya (both Green Eagles), Rickson Ng’ambi (MUZA), Kingston Mutandwa (Athletico)
We needed more players from Europe. We have been let down by FAZ again!!!
The challenge is the date for tournament , it falls outside fifa dates and most of European clubs aren’t willing to release players
Can someone challenge Faz to name the under 20 players contacted based in Europe! This Kamanga Faz is too timid. There is Chiwisa Mwewa from Italy plus the boys in Croatia and Israel!!! I was a passionate supporter of Kamanga but am beginning to believe he is not cut out for football administration! The rough and tumble of soccer management is not up his alley.
It’s clear the team is going to struggle going by the friendlies against Nigeria and Senegal. That’s why they could have brought in more players in Europe especially the boy at Atlanta. Most of these boys play for youth or B teams. So the excuse of not FIFA Calendar dates falls away.
Its an opportunity for the boys to build on what the class of 2007 and 2017 did with reinforcements they can go far. But now it looks like its too late .
FAZ could have spread the net wide and early.
The South American version of the u20ess in progress in Colombia and Incase you wonder 🤔.
The teams has all their players from Europe.