Zambia National Team forward Fashion Sakala says the Chipolopolo Boys are ready to face anyone at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The draws for the Africa Cup of Nations Coted’voire 2023 will take place today (Thursday) at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan at 21:00 hours (CAT) with the 24 qualified teams awaiting their groups.
The Saudi Arabia based forward says the team is excited to have qualified for the prestigious continental showpiece.
“We are so excited to have qualified for this tournament, a tournament which we have wanted for a long time.
Our squad is ready, we worked so hard for this qualification and we are ready to face any team we will be drawn against,” Sakala said.
“We have a young squad with no big names but we are determined to overcome any team that we face, I must say we will definitely cause upsets at the tournament.”
“After missing the last three competitions, this will be a new beginning for Zambia and we are ready to get the positive results that will cheer our fans and all Zambians,” he added.
Avram Grant’s Chipolopolo are in Pot 3 where they are lumped with Cape Verde, South Africa, Mauritania, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Conakry. Zambia cannot be paired with the teams they are placed in the same pot.
Hosts Ivory Coast are expectedly in Pot 1 alongside defending champions Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt.
Pot 2 has Cameroon, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Congo DR while Pot 4 has Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, Gambia and Tanzania.
The 24 participating teams will be divided into six (6) groups (A, B, C, D, E & F) of four (4) teams each.The host country is at the top of Group A in position A1.
Five cities will house groups with Abidjan hosting Group A and B while the rest of the host cities are Yamoussoukro, Bouake, Korhogo and San Pedro.
