Chipolopolo interim head coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina has challenged locally based players to work extra hard if they are to force their way into Zambia’s final squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Lwandamina, speaking after Friday morning’s training session at Nkoloma Stadium, said although the majority of the squad is expected to be made up of foreign-based players, the door remains open for top-performing local players to earn their places.
Locals Given Opportunity to Impress
The current assessment camp features a mixture of players who represented Zambia at the Mukuru Four Nations tournament in Botswana and members of the squad that faced Argentina in an international friendly in Buenos Aires.
Lwandamina wants the players to treat every training session as an opportunity to demonstrate their ability and compete for a place in the final squad.
“Basically, this is our initial camping. So, we have gotten players who went to Botswana, and those who went to Argentina. This is the group that we have,” he said.
“We don’t know which ones will come from abroad. So, we have to start with these. So that’s the chance they have, this is an initial one (camp).”
The coach has summoned 28 locally based players for the initial assessment camp.
Foreign-Based Players Expected to Form Bulk of Squad
Lwandamina acknowledged that foreign-based players will make up the bulk of the final AFCON qualifying squad because they can only join the national team during the FIFA international window.
He explained that the local camp gives his technical team an opportunity to work with domestic players before the overseas-based contingent arrives.
“As you may be aware, foreign based players can only come few days before the games. So, we have to play and train with the locals, hoping one or two or three will make it to the final one.”
The interim coach said his technical bench is also monitoring the performances of Zambian players based abroad ahead of the squad announcement.
“We are following what is happening and we followed what they have been doing. You will see the squad which will be announced,” Lwandamina said.
Lwandamina Demands Extra Effort
While the opportunity exists for local players, Lwandamina has made it clear that they must raise their performance levels if they are to compete with their foreign-based counterparts.
“The locals have work extra harder, chances (for making the squad) are there for them. Those who are playing in the diaspora are active. And that’s where most of the team will come from.”
The coach believes healthy competition for places can only benefit the Chipolopolo.
“They are all Zambians. It is good for the country. If there is that competition in the team, then you have a team. If players can fight, then you have a team. So, it is good. We are following them (players playing abroad).”
Zambia Begin AFCON Qualifiers Against Algeria
Zambia are in Group I alongside Algeria, Togo and Burundi in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Chipolopolo will begin their campaign away against Algeria on 25 September before returning home to face Togo four days later in Ndola.
The FIFA international window opens on 21 September, when the foreign-based players are expected to join the squad for the crucial qualifying fixtures.
Conclusion
Lwandamina’s local assessment camp provides domestic players with an important opportunity to impress before Zambia’s final AFCON qualifying squad is assembled.
With foreign-based players expected to form the majority of the team, competition for the remaining places will be fierce. For the locally based players, Lwandamina’s message is straightforward: work harder, perform consistently and prove that you deserve to wear the Chipolopolo jersey.
