The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has appointed Chipolopolo legend and Green Eagles head coach Perry Mutapa as the new Zambia Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach ahead of a busy international calendar.
Mutapa succeeds Boyd Mulwanda, whose final assignment with the junior national team was the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Experienced Technical Bench Named
Mutapa will be assisted by Sipho Mumbi as first assistant coach, Lameck Banda as second assistant coach and Masautso Tembo as strikers’ coach.
The rest of the technical and support staff includes:
- Goalkeeper Coach: Mike Songwe Siame
- Physical Coach: Donashano Malama
- Video Analyst: Zani William Phiri
- Team Manager: Mangulenje Mvula
- Team Doctor: Muyunda Mukubesa
- Physiotherapist: Abraham Banda
- Equipment Manager: Emmanuel Mbola
- Security Manager: Joseph Chanda
- Team Ambassador: James Chamanga
Former Chipolopolo defender Emmanuel Mbola joins as equipment manager, while 2012 AFCON winner James Chamanga has been appointed team ambassador.
Immediate Focus on AFCON Qualification
FAZ General Secretary Charles Chakatazya said the new technical bench has been tasked with qualifying Zambia for the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, with the zonal qualifiers scheduled to take place in Mauritius from 18 to 27 September.
“In an effort to regenerate the focus for our Under-20 boys’ national team, we have decided to appoint a new bench to align with the assignments coming ahead. We have our focus on the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations zonal qualifier which will take place in Mauritius from 18-27 September,” Chakatazya said.
He added that qualification for both the continental championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup remains the association’s primary objective.
“We have tasked the new bench to qualify the team to the AFCON and subsequently to the FIFA World Cup. Our Under-20 project has been on the wane since the 2017 side that won the AFCON and reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup in South Korea.”
Former Chipolopolo Stars to Inspire the Next Generation
Chakatazya said FAZ deliberately assembled a technical team featuring several former Chipolopolo internationals to inspire the country’s next generation of talent.
“The team assembled is bringing four former Chipolopolo stars whose experience we expect to spur the young lads to victory.”
Mutapa himself recently served as an assistant coach with the Chipolopolo during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, adding further experience to his coaching résumé.
New Era for the Junior National Team
The appointment signals FAZ’s determination to revive the fortunes of the Under-20 national team, which enjoyed its greatest success in 2017, when Zambia won the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
Mutapa will now be tasked with leading the next generation back to continental and global prominence.
