Midfielders Joshua Mutale, Patrick Gondwe and Golden Mashata are among the noted named that headline coach Oswald Mutapa’s provisional squad for the 2023 U23 AFCON qualifier matches against Egypt.
Mutapa on Sunday afternoon announced a 30-man provisional squad for next month’s assignment.
Mashata who has been in fine form for Buffaloes and netted a brace over the weekend is among the players expected to do the trick for Mutapa in March.
Power Dynamos’ Joshua Mutale was also on target over the weekend which should be good news for Mutapa ahead of the two very important games.
Other notable names include John Kosamu, Wilson ‘Shosho’ Chisala, Patrick Gondwe, and Prince Mumba who recently returned from Croatia.
Mutapa has also roped in Chiombo United inform striker Kelvin Mubanga who has scored 20 goals in the FAZ Northern Province Division One League.
Mutapa will be expected to add some foreign players to his side with Lameck Banda, Chanka Zimba, Manneh Chiwisa, Emmanuel Mwiinde and Jadel Katongo all eligible for this assignment.Â
The first leg of the decider will be played in North Africa on March 20 before the return fixture at home six days later.
Zambia qualified to the last round after beating Sierra Leone 2-1 on aggregate while Egypt held on to a 1-0 first leg win over Eswatini to qualify after a goalless draw in the second leg.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS
Francis Mwansa (Trident), Jairos Tembo (FC MUZA), Mukuka Chilufya (Aguila Stars), Patrick Chooma (Prison Leopards)
DEFENDERS
John Chishimba (ZESCO United), Emmanuel Bwalya Chembe, Andrew Phiri, Mathews Chabala (all Nchanga Rangers), Nexala Mvula, Martin Zulu (both Chambishi), Ronald Chanda Chileshe (FC MUZA), William Kamwanga (Lumwana Radiants), Christopher Katongo (Kansanshi Dynamos), Sharpi Chikondi Njobvu (Green Eagles), Brian Musema (Jumulo)
MIDFIELDERS
Prince Mumba (Kabwe Warriors), Martin Zulu (Chambishi), Patrick Gondwe (Nkana), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos), Golden Mashata, John Kosamu (both Green Buffaloes), Peter Phiri (Morning Stars), Wilson Chisala, Dalitso Phiri (both ZANACO), Mwiya Mwiya (FC MUZA)
STRIKERS
Andrew Phiri (FC MUZA), Jimmy Mukeya (NAPSA Stars), Enock Sakala Jr (ZESCO United), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows), Jonathan Munalula (Forest Rangers), Kelvin Mubanga (Chiombo United)
Very blunt front line.
Hope the foreign based lads like Jadel and Chiwisa are called please
On the issue of the so called professionals like Jadel katongo and Chanka Zimba let ba Faz stop dreaming.. they are calling those boys for national duties yet they don’t even hold our national passports let the coach just concentrate on the material is got
give them ma passports why kulala