Zambia Under-20 head coach Perry Mutapa has admitted that he faces a difficult rebuilding job but believes a combination of emerging talent and players from the country’s successful U17 side can help the junior Chipolopolo secure qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mutapa is preparing a largely new squad for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier, with Zambia drawn in Group C alongside Malawi, Comoros and Botswana. With limited preparation time available, the coach says the technical bench has had to look beyond the traditional Under-20 player pool when assembling the squad.
“We want to put up a very strong squad and qualify to the Africa Cup. In doing so, we have to consider everyone who is eligible,” Mutapa said after Thursday morning’s training session at the Bank of Zambia Sports Complex. “It hasn’t been easy because of time. But we are going to give it our best shot.”
Among the players drafted into the squad are Jonathan Kalimina, Christo Chitambala and Abel Nyirongo, who were part of Zambia’s recent FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign. Mutapa believes their experience on the international stage can provide valuable exposure and help strengthen a squad that is otherwise starting almost from scratch.
“We have the likes of Kalimina (Jonathan), Christo Chitambala and Abel Nyirongo from the U17, so it is important that we tap from the under 17 team which did well at the World Cup,” he said.
The coach acknowledged that the transition has not been straightforward, particularly because several players who featured in Zambia’s previous U20 campaign are now too old for the COSAFA tournament.
“I think the last time the national under-20 team was assembled was in April 2025 for the last AFCON. This is a completely new team. So, we have to start from the scratch,” Mutapa said. “So, it is not easy, but we are trying our best so that we can put up a squad to be ready for the upcoming tournament.”
Players such as David Simukonda, Pascal Phiri and Dominic Kanda are among those no longer eligible, leaving Mutapa with a significantly different group to work with. He noted that only a few players, including Given Kalusa and David Hamansenya, have continuity from the wider national setup.
“This is a new team from scratch because most of the guys like David Simukonda, Pascal Phiri and Kandas (Dominic) are not eligible for this tournament. So almost everyone, maybe except the likes of Given Kalusa and David Hamansenya who are part of the national setup. So we just have to do with what we have.”
Despite the challenges, Mutapa is determined to use the qualification campaign as the foundation for a new generation of Zambian players. The coach believes the young squad needs encouragement and confidence as it attempts to revive Zambia’s fortunes at U20 level.
“I think the boys just need that encouragement. It is a new team, but we are going to fight hard because it has been long since the U20 did well,” he said. “For now we want to qualify to the Africa Cup, but after that, we have to set a new chapter where we want to go.”
Zambia are record 13-time COSAFA Under-20 champions and will face familiar opponents Malawi, as well as Comoros and Botswana, in Group C. Only the group winners will advance directly to the semi-finals, while the best runner-up across the three groups will also progress.
The two finalists will secure qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, giving Mutapa and his young squad a major incentive as they begin a new chapter. The COSAFA Under-20 Championship will be staged in Maputo, Mozambique, from 18 to 27 September.
