The Zambia U23 national team will tomorrow travel to Ivory Coast for the first leg qualifier match in the final round of the 2015 CAF U23 championships against the young Elephants over the weekend.
U23 coach Fighton Simukonda has named his final 18 man squad which has seen Red Arrows midfielder Bruce Musakanya bounce back to the squad.
Another Red Arrows midfielder Paul Katema who has been a fringe player for the senior Chipolopolo squad has been axed from the final squad.
Mukuka Mulenga and Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba who inspired Zambia to victory over Botswana in the previous round are the two foreign based players named in the squad.
French Ligue 1 side Lille trialist Patson Daka and Patrick Ngoma have also been named in the squad as they are expected to complete their one week trial at the Herve Renard coached side this week.
Mukuka has since joined the squad while Daka, Ngoma and Kampamba will fly directly to Abidjan.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Toaster Nsabata (Zanaco), Kenny Mumba (Red Arrows)
Defenders: Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Boyd Mkandawire (Napsa Stars), Kayawe Kapota (Nkana), Benson Sakala (Unattached), Benard Mapili (Zesco United)
Midfielders: Jack Chirwa (Green Buffaloes), Shadreck Malambo (Red Arrows), Kelvin Mubanaga (Power Dynamos), Mukuka Mulenga (Bloemfontein Celtic), Bruce Musakanya (Red Arrows), Salulani Phiri (Zanaco)
Strikers: Moses Phiri (Zanaco), Patson Daka (Nchanga Rangers), Patrick Ngoma (Red Arrows), Friday Samu (Green Buffaloes), Ronald Kampamba (Wadi Degla)
Lubambo Musonda has been left out??
A scoring draw will be good enough 4 the boys but even a win is posible anything can happen in the game of football
Can someone tell us what is happening to lubabo musonda
Were is lubambo musondsa
Probably finished by dubious deals to Europe. Just when we were excited about this kid going to Europe and it’s all mute. WTF?
only one defender on da bench
Good observation! In case any of the full backs (Mkandawire and Chepeshi) is injured, we have a crisis. The rest play in central defense. Benson Sakala (midfilder cum defender) played in central defense in the last game against Botswana.
Unless Benson Sakala plays well in central defence role,it appears there will be limited or no option when it comes to said role in case of injury or any central defence player being sent off! Wish you boys the best of luck; rise to the ocassion this time around.
No lubambo Musonda,Charles Zulu Fackson Kapumbu and Evans Kangwa.ba fighton we expect a win that side,it Sims you know what you are doing by leaving these outstanding play makers.i expected to see a team like 1. T Nsabata 2.Boyd Mkandawire 3.Fackson Kapumbu 4.Benson Sakala 5.Kapota Kayawe 6.Jack Chirwa 7.Evans Kangwa 8.Mukuka Mulenga 9.Sate Sate 10.Moses Phiri 11.Lubambo Musonda.sub Kenny Mumba,Mapili,chepeshi,Malambo,Musakanya,C Zulu,Patrick Ngoma and Friday Samu.
Katebe for Benson Sakala
No lubambo Musonda,Charles Zulu Fackson Kapumbu and Evans Kangwa.ba fighton we expect a win that side,it Sims you know what you are doing by leaving these outstanding play makers.i expected to see a team like 1. T Nsabata 2.Boyd Mkandawire 3.Fackson Kapumbu 4.Katebe 5.Kapota Kayawe 6.Jack Chirwa 7.Evans Kangwa 8.Mukuka Mulenga 9.Sate Sate 10.Moses Phiri 11.Lubambo Musonda.sub Kenny Mumba,Mapili,Benson sakala,Malambo,Musakanya,C Zulu,Patrick Ngoma and Friday Samu.
My question is: do these Zambian coaches love wwinning or they are all associated with failure? Or maybe they are paid to fail? Coz honest the best performing players are left out with no explanation..
Zambia’s problem is selection among many others. You people are blessed with talent but then it seems some of the best you have are never identified nor utilized.Power Dynamos have a very good defender and sweeper who at one point some article on this blog made it clear that he is U23. I bet he is one of the best defenders I have seen in the Zambian league. The most surprising thing though is that he is never summoned for national duty. This is disappointing. It makes supporters to lose a percentage of the hope of a very good result for the team. With love from Botswana.
Ba zamfoot please help us on Lubambo Musonda is he still clubless….??
He will be back in action for the next European season
So why not now? Is he injured or what?
thats the problem of our local coaches they always leave gud players who can deliver gud results or puting them on the bench, in a swim or sink encounter.
u cant leave lubambo in crucial game like this one, remember we are playing a west african team, they hav quality professionals who are playing in europe not yo trialist plunks, daka & ngoma
We Need Sate Sate To Start The Game A Head Of Daka. This Daka Cost Us Aganist Guinea Bissau, Its Time 4 Sate Sate 2 Start. But Draw In Abidjan, Wil Be A Gud Results 4 Us.
Billy mutale is missing from that team..
We don’t stand a chance…
I wish Renard were in Abidjan, he could have taken over and guided the boys to victory! I hope for the best, nevertheless!
Humm! NEVERTHELESS? I BELIEVE ZAMBIA STILL LIKES
HEVARD REYNARDS..U MISSED HIM RIGHT PAL? Hahahahahaha..
GOOD LUCK ZAMBIA AND HER CHIPOS..
we dont want a heavy defeat in abidjan, becoz it wil be diffult us 2 overturn it at home 4 us 2 qualify.
this time we need a revenge, remember in 2008 benjing olympique qualifier ivory coast booted us out on a 4-3 agregate, we beat them here 2-0, but we lost in abidjan 4-1, with gervinho scored a hat-trick.
Thank Ba Zamfoot for yr response on Lubambo Musonda he is going to be playing Fc Ulisses in Armenia
Zambia U23 team’s camp is bubbling,” AfricanFootball. Red Arrows midfielder Bruce Musakanya, who missed the first leg in Nigeria due to injury, is fully fit and in camp.