Zambia U-20 national team head coach Chisi Mbewe has named a strong 43 member provisional squad ahead of next month’s COSAFA U-20 Championship.
Red Arrows wing wizard Joseph Sabobo Banda and ZESCO United tricky winger Chipyoka Songa lead the squad named by the former U-15 boss.
Banda is a graduate of the U-17 national team where he scored over 10 goals at the regional tournament winning the golden boot and golden ball twice.
Sabobo and Songa were part of the Oswald Mutapa coached side that won the U-17 COSAFA in 2019 helping the young bullets qualify for the CAF 2021 African Cup of Nations in Morocco, a tournament which was cancelled at the 11th hour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other notable names include the Athletico Lusaka trio of Julius Kumwenda, Charles Majapa Mumba and Kingston Mutandwa.
Nkana’s Amon Chulu, Happy Nsiku, Dominic Kanda, FC MuZA captain Kelvin Mwanza, Moses Mulenga of Young Power and Rickson Ng’ambi have also made the cut.
The 2022 COSAFA U20 Men’s Championship will be held from October 6-16 in Eswatini.
The tournament in Eswatini will be used as a qualifier for the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Only the finalists will qualify for the continental showpiece to be held in Egypt.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS
Joseph Chola (River Plate), Iford Mwale (Atletico Lusaka), Mukuka Chilufya (Shamuel Academy), Samuel Chibwe (City of Lusaka), Charles Njobvu (Kafue Celtic)
DEFENDERS
Mike Taonga Ngulube (Nangweshi FC), Lombe Mutale (Power Dynamos), Onesmus Chipango, Luckson Tembo (both Shamuel Academy), Henry Sakala (Real Nakonde), Amon Chulu (Nkana FC), Ricky Chanda (City of Lusaka), Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows), Emmanuel Lungu (Galaxy Academy)
MIDFIELDERS
Joseph Sabobo Banda (Red Arrows), Songa Chipyoka (Zesco United), Julius Kumwenda, Charles Mumba, Kingston Mutandwa (all Atletico Lusaka), Benjamin Chisala (Gomes FC), Lasmond Phiri (Blaze FC Academy), Benjamin Saili (On-On Academy), Michelo Siame (Vickrich Academy), Dominic Kanda (Shamuel Academy), Justin Mulela (Kamwanya FC), Emmanuel Muyanga (Kanyama Lions), Golden Zanzi (Young Nkana), Kelvin Mwanza (FC MUZA), Tobias Chungu (Vector FC), Sunday Mulenga (Mpika Youth Academy), Innocent Nkhoma (Mungwi Hotspurs), Walter Tembo (Malcet FC-Spain), Jimmy Matebula, Mwilanji Silavwe (both Kalenga Sports Club), Mwape Mayembe (Green Buffaloes)
STRIKERS
Rickson Ng’ambi (FC MUZA), Moses Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Brian Mate (Young Zanaco), Kelvin Mwamba (Shamuel Academy), Emmanuel Chanda (Kasama Secondary School), Henry Mbuti Zenga (Lusaka Youth Academy), Bernard Mwila Mubanga (Kamwaya FC), Abraham Phiri (Morning Stars)
