Red Arrows technical director Oswald Mutapa has been named as the new Zambia U-23 national team head coach.
Mutapa takes over from Nkana boss Beston Chambeshi who was in charge of the team during their 2019 U-23 AFCON disappointing outing in Egypt.
“The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has announced the under-23 technical bench with Oswald Mutapa taking the head coach role.”
Mutapa, will be assisted by Power Dynamos trainer Mwenya Chipepo, Kansanshi Dynamos’ Boyd Mulwanda, Tenant Chembo and Kalililo Kakonje who will serve as goalkeeper trainer.
Meanwhile 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winning captain Christopher Katongo will be deployed as physical trainer.
Zambia will face Sierra Leone in the second round with the first leg pencilled for the weekend of October 21-23 in Freetown while the return leg will be on October 29 in Lusaka.
The winner over two legs will qualify to the final round that will be played in March 2023 where Egypt or the winner between Botswana and Eswatini await.
Egypt, like Zambia, is on bye from the first round of qualifiers with the young pharaohs awaiting the winner between Botswana and Eswatini.
The Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations will be used as a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Zambia has never been to the Olympic Games.
FAZ has also announced that Red Arrows boss Chisi Mbewe will head the U-20 national team technical bench.
The Airmen gaffer will be assisted by George Chilufya, Alfred Lupiya, Albert Mphande and Emmanuel Msichili as goalkeeper coach. Donewell Yobe has been handed the physical trainer role.
Mbewe takes over from NAPSA Stars boss Perry Mutapa who led the team at the 2020 COSAFA Cup.
The Zambia under-20 will participate in next month’s Cosafa championship that is being used as a qualifier for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
