Power Dynamos goalkeeper Willard Mwanza is looking like the chosen one to start between the sticks for this African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.
Mwanza who has been fantastic at club level with Abayellow in the MTN Super League is likely to earn the spot between the sticks ahead of Francis Mwansa and Charles Kalumba as Chipolopolo open their campaign against former Champions, DR Congo.
Mwanza kept 12 clean sheets in 20 League matches for Power Dynamos enroute to winning the 2024/2025 MTN Super League title.
In the 20 matches, the former Nchanga Rangers man has only conceded 9 goals, and only once did he concede more than one goal in a single game (in the first leg against Nkana) with the other 7 goals being from seven different games.
Sensational ZANACO new acquisition Francis Mwansa is another option for coach Avram Grant this afternoon.
After controversy over his selection, Mwansa came to the party in the 2023 COSAFA Championship semifinal clash against South Africa on his competitive debut.
Mwansa did well and showed composure as he helped Zambia to a 2-1 win over arch rivals Bafana Bafana.
The 23 year old then went on to keep a clean sheet in the final as Zambia beat Lesotho 1-0 to win a record seventh title.
He has since made over seven appearances including 90 minutes in Zambia’s 4-2 win over Congo Brazzaville in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The other goalkeeper available for selection is 29 year old Charles Kalumba who was spotted and earmarked by then Chipolopolo coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic as a possible first choice goalkeeper at the Cameroon 2020 CHAN tournament.
He made some costly mistakes but worked his way back to the national team set up, winning his third cap against Iraq.
Kalumba impressed as he saved Zambia from a tennis scoreline in Baghdad.
He was also a pivotal part of the Red Arrows squad that won a domestic double (the MTN Super League and the ABSA Cup) and CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup in 2024.
Kalumba is the most experienced of the three goalkeepers available for selection followed by Mwansa but it is Willard Mwanza who looks like the likely option this afternoon.
Kickoff at the Nyayo Stadium is at 15h00 CAT with the match live on ZNBC TV1 and SuperSport (227).
