MBEWE NAMES PROVISIONAL SQUAD FOR AFCON PREPS
Zambia Under-20 Men’s National Team coach Chisi Mbewe has called 29 players for the second phase of preparations for the TotalEnergies which will be held in Egypt 2023. U-20 Africa Cup of Nations tournament will run from 19 February to 11 March 2023.
Mbewe has retained all 20 players from the 2022 COSAFA winning squad that have been joined by U17 captain Aaron Mbemba Phiri and midfielder Emmanuel Mutale who were influential to the junior team’s success at the 2022 U17 COSAFA Championship played at the Region V Games in Malawi.
Zambia have been putted in Group C alongside Gambia, Tunisia and Benin and will play their matches at Alexandria stadium in Alexandria. Group A has hosts Egypt, Mozambique, Senegal and Nigeria while Uganda, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Congo will tussle in Group B.
The top four teams (semi-finalists) in Egypt will secure qualification for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Indonesia in May.
HERE IS THE FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD0961886280
GOALKEEPERS
Levsion Banda (Zesco United), Jeban Tembo (Red Arrows), Eric Musonda Makungu (Shamuel Academy), Valentine Mwale (Power Dynamos)
DEFENDERS
Lombe Mutale (Power Dynamos), Mathews Banda (Kafue Celtic), Amon Chulu (Nkana), Luckson Tembo (City of Lusaka), Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows), Gift Mphande (Atletico), Ricky Chanda (City of Lusaka), Onesimus Chipango (Shamuel Academy)
MIDFIELDERS
Ian Sindaye (Roan United), Rickson Ng’ambi , Kelvin Mwanza, Steven Changala (all FC MUZA), Songa Chipyoka (ZESCO United), Joseph Sabobo Banda (Red Arrows), Dominic Kanda (Shamuel Academy), Julius Kumwenda, Charles Majapa Mumba, Aaron Mbemba Phiri (all Atletico), Lasmond Phiri (City of Lusaka), Emmanuel Mukosha (Green Eagles), Emmanuel Mutale (Nkana)
STRIKERS
Derrick Bulaya (Green Eagles), Kingstone Mutandwa (Atletico), Moses Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Henry Mbuti Zenga (City of Lusaka)
