Zambia national team stand-in coach Agrrey Chinyangi has released his first squad ahead of the upcoming COSAFA Cup tournament to be staged in Durban from May 25-June 8.
Chiyangi selected the provisional squad of 24 to officially start preparations ahead of the annual regional competition.
Three players are primed to make their official debuts in the squad that is set to link up for the camp on Sunday in Lusaka, before returning to their domestic teams on Wednesday, and arriving back in the camp next weekend.
The incoming players are Forest Rangers’ midfielder Webster Muzaza, Austin Muwowo and Zanaco’s Chitiya Mususu.
Buildcon’s Moses Phiri and Red Arrows’ Bruce Musakanya have been offered a chance to resurrect their international careers.
Chipolopolo will join the competition at the quarterfinal stage where they will clash with the winner of Group B, which includes Mozambique, 2015 winners Namibia, Malawi and Seychelles.
Zambia are four-time winners of the COSAFA Cup but have been to 10 finals in all. Their previous title was in 2013 on home soil.
Zambia won both of the first two editions of the COSAFA Cup in 1997 and 1998, but it took until 2006 for them to claim their third regional title.
Besides the COSAFA tournament, Zambia will also feature in the African Nations Championships qualifiers where they are primed to face the winner between Botswana and Seychelles on the weekend of July 26-28.
Zambia local training squad:
Goalkeepers: Toaster Nsabata (Zanaco), Kelvin Malunga (Nkana), Sebastian Mwange (Green Eagles)
Defenders: Simon Silwimba, Clement Mwape, Mwila Phiri (all Zesco United), Lyton Thole, Gift Zulu (both Nkana), Lawrence Chungu (Zanaco), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), Isaac Shamujompa (Buildcon), Thandi Mwape (Kabwe Warriors)
Midfielders: Benson Sakala (Power Dynamos), Kelvin Mubanga (Nkana), Clement Mundia (Kabwe Warriors), Webster Muzaza (Forest Rangers), Bruce Musakanya (Red Arrows), Ernest Mbewe (Zanaco), Moses Phiri (Buildcon)
Strikers: Austin Muwowo (Forest Rangers), Emmanuel Chabula (Nkwazi), Lazarous Kambole (Zesco United), Chitiya Mususu (Zanaco), Tapson Kaseba (Green Eagles)
