The Zambia Under-20 Men’s National Team will begin preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier Mauritius 2026 with head coach Perry Mutapa naming a provisional 32-member squad for an assessment camp.
Mutapa has opened the door to several foreign-based prospects, including Netherlands-based Fanwell Tembo of Alphence Racing Club and Tumelo Mununga, who plays for Spanish side CD Leganés.
South Africa-based striker Sipho Muntanga of Randburg FC has also been called up, alongside former Under-17 star Lineker Mbesuma of Roan United.
The technical bench will use the initial camp to assess the players before adding some of the top performers from Zambia’s Under-17 squad that competed at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The move gives Mutapa an opportunity to widen his options while building a competitive squad from both the local and foreign-based player pools.
The camp will be used to narrow down the squad ahead of the COSAFA tournament, which will be held in Mauritius from 18-27 September.
Zambia have been drawn in Group C alongside Malawi, Botswana and Comoros.
The top two teams at the COSAFA tournament will qualify for the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, with the continental tournament also serving as a pathway to the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Full provisional squad
Goalkeepers
- Stacial Kangwa — Chirundu United
- Hendrix Kanyungu — Makeni All Stars
- Friday Kampamba — Zesco United
Defenders
- Davies Chiwisa — Relentless Kings Football Academy
- Mathews Makukula — Relentless Kings Football Academy
- Titus Bwalya — Indeni FC
- Samson Ngoma — Mines United
- Joseph Sikandi — Billy Sports Academy
- Warren Kalenje — Billy Sports Academy
- Maurice Masuku — Red Arrows
Midfielders
- Philimon Chilimina — Chirundu United
- Elvis Mulenga — Red Arrows
- Clement Banda — Power Dynamos
- Bunonge Bunonge — Lumwana
- Moffat Ng’ambi — Trident
- Charles Walawala — Modern Skills Soccer Academy
- Kayula Chinunda — Mphande Youth Soccer Academy
- Paul Mwape — Mutondo Stars
- Nuto Banda — Morning Stars
- Wise Kabanji — Zanaco
- Evaristo Himoonga — Chirundu United
- Paul Halwindi — Ndola United
- Marvelous Chishimba — Gomes Academy
- Allan Mumba — Zesco United
- Tumelo Mununga — CD Leganés, Spain
- Dennis Mwendabai — Lusaka Youth Soccer Academy
- Lineker Mbesuma — Roan United
Strikers
- Sipho Muntanga — Randburg FC, South Africa
- Fanwell Tembo — Alphence Racing Club, Netherlands
- Gibson Mooya — Power Dynamos
- Billy Daka — Nkwazi
- John Foloko — Mufulira Wanderers
Note: This is an assessment camp, with some players from the Zambia U17 FIFA World Cup squad expected to join the team in the next phase of preparations.
