Thursday, March 28, 2024

Phiri Hands Eight Africa Cup Debuts

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Eight Zambia national team players are expected to make their Africa Cup debuts this year in Ghana after Patrick Phiri unveiled his squad for this year’s tournament on Thursday.

The list includes Konkola Blades and Zambia Under-23 striker Felix Nsunzu Jnr who is a late call-up for the dropped Collins Mbesuma of Bursaspor in Turkey.

Mbesuma was dropped on Wednesday by Phiri due to poor form forcing the coach to recall Nsunzu whom he dropped from the team in December prior to Zambia’s pre-tournament Christmas training camp in Spain.

Phiri had earlier dropped Nsunzu following uncertainty over the striker’s availability while he was attending trials at Egyptian club Arab Contractors over the Christmas period.

Phiri has also handed Africa Cup a debut call-up to Zambia Under-20 striker and 2007 Zambia young player of the year Emmanuel Mayuka of Kabwe Warriors.

Also in the team are Lusaka Dynamos and Under-20 midfielder William Njovbu including his club mate and defender Hichani Himoonde, Green Buffaloes goalkeeper Mike Poto plus Zesco United defender William Chinyama.

Power Dynamos utility midfielder Francis Kasonde will also make his Africa Cup debut after being dropped from the traveling party of the 2006 Egypt finals team.

But the highlight of the debuts is reserved to French-based striker Jacob Mulenga who is expected to mark his eagerly-awaited first Africa Cup final appearance.

Mulenga, of Ligue 1 club Strasbourg, missed out on the 2006 edition in Egypt due to injury.

And defender Kampamba Chintu of Free State Stars of South Africa makes his first Africa Cup appearance since making his debut at the 2000 tournament co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Zambia tomorrow play Morocco in Fez in their final pre-Africa Cup warm-up match before heading to Ghana on Sunday.

Zambia opens its Africa Cup campaign on January 22 when they face 1970 African champions Sudan in both sides first Group C match in Kumasi.

GOALKEEPERS: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Kalililo Kakonje (Amazulu, South Africa), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes)

DEFENDERS: William Chinyama, Clive Hachilensa (Both Zesco United), Kampamba Chintu (Free State Stars, South Africa), Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos), Elijah Tana (El Merriekh, Sudan), Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda (Both Lamotville Golden Arrows), Kennedy Nkethani (Zanaco).

MIDFIELDERS: Ian Bakala, Felix Katongo (Both Desportivo de Agosto, Angola), Isaac Chansa (Helsingborg, Sweden), Rainford Kalaba (Zesco United), Francis Kasonde (Power Dynamos), Clifford Mulenga (Pretoria University FC, South Africa), William Njovbu (Lusaka Dynamos).

STRIKERS: James Chamanga (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Christopher Katongo (Brondby, Denmark), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Jacob Mulenga (Strasbourg, France), Dube Phiri (Desportivo de Agosto, Angola), Felix Nsunzu Jnr (Konkola Blades).

33 COMMENTS

  1. Sounds like a good selection. I hope PP can play a probable line up for the first game against Sudan in tomorrow’s game against Morroco. It should help him strategise since he will be without influencial Midfilder Issac Chansa and Chris Katongo up front. Overall, I am personally ok with this selection of the squad. Good luck Boys, we don’t expect you to win the cup so prove us wrong!

  2. The Line up is impressive according to the materials available to Zambai and Phiri.
    Mbesuma, go and sleep.
    What has happened to Tana?

  3. I think I saw something to the effect that Tana is on “stand by” in the ‘Times of Zambia’ newspaper. I don’t how trye that is or what the latest is (Thing change pretty fast in terms of lineups)

  4. DEFENDERS: William Chinyama, Clive Hachilensa (Both Zesco United), Kampamba Chintu (Free State Stars, South Africa), Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos), Elijah Tana (El Merriekh, Sudan), Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda (Both Lamotville Golden Arrows), Kennedy Nkethani (Zanaco).

  5. We pray for guys to do fine this time. Remember God for us all but each one for himself. All the teams going CAN2008 all want to win. Good lucky and we shall be watching on TV. Everything is set.

  6. My comment is to encourage phiri to be confindet and positive about the boys,the team looks good.iam just asking phiri not be supprised each time they win a game.Go Zambia for Goals,dont waist time,the best time to score is immediately the game starts,before yo opponents TABALASALAPUKA,aim at scoring more goals in the first half and use the second half to defend yo goals.LESA APALE ZAMBIA CHIPOLOPOLO; SUDAN WAFWA NA PICK,Sudan yalala yalala 4-0

  7. I support Zambia, Chipolopolo till forever. I have confidence that Zambia has a suprize package to hand to Eto, Pharaol , and the Darfur boys. Confidence is what counts. Please PP help the boys build character both on the pitch and off the pitch. Kalu has shown what type of character a pro need to show.Very soon Mbesuma will be no more why? Becuase they lack character that can build knowledge, skill and desire. Lyonse amano ni ku Chibuku na maule.

  8. I am confident we will chalk up some handsome victories at the CAN08 coz all our opponenets think we are still in slumber zone. That willl work in our favour. The selection is spot on. The players in the squad are determined to ink their names onn the european markets and that should be the motivating factor. Good on you PP.

  9. I also concur, it is a good team. The onus is now on the boys to deliver a good result, of course with the right prayers so that the games be fair what more can one ask for! The last preparatory game against morocco is all we are waiting for then it is off to Ghana. In the word of the legendary Mr Dennis Liwewe “Lets wait and see” how this cup unfolds!

  10. Where is that Chi other boy who went to Sweden? Under 20 soooo! from chawama. Am not saying that they include him now. Tana should be serious when it comes to national matters and a tournamet of this magnitude. Anway h is aging we forgive him. Thats why chaps like Sichone cannot pitchup because they are old and cannot perform, they would be a disappointment. Viva Phiri keep up the good work. At the tournament let us not see you seated on the bench when things are going wrong on the pitch. Okay!!

  11. CHIPOLOPOLO Boys coach Patrick Phiri has named the final 23-man national soccer team for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana with Under-23 striker Felix Sunzu replacing Collins Mbesuma.

    According to the list submitted to CAF on Thursday night, Phiri has also included defender Elijah Tana and maintained the players that were part of the 10-day Spain tour.
    Phiri has dropped Turkey-based striker Mbesuma who has been declared medically unfit.

    And Felix Sunzu Snr also confirmed the calling of h

  12. Let’s hope ba Bakala bakaba mu top form.Remember COSAFA against SA balebwesha sana bola kunuma.Nukubutuka balefilwa.Go Chipolopolo go we are behind you,thanks to Gtv.

  13. Why do we have only white people below lusaka.com Headling.You should also include Black,Indian, etc for it to be truly Zambian

  14. PP thanks for proving the critcs wrong, and picking what i feel is the best squad available to us.Its now up to us to rally behind the team, and outperform whoever under-rates us. We have beaten all these teams in the past, and nothing will stop us this time round. If we go in with a defeatist attitude, we will fail for sure. God Bless our squad! Good luck boys we are behind you all the way!!!!!!!!!

  15. A good line up able to suprise the likes of cameroon. i do not think Egpty will run easily at us like the last time.Sudan may just have to be at there best otherwise they are in trouble.The least solution would be to win the first match and draw all.I have not watched sunzu play however a player who turn down a 5 year offer means he know his worth(he is lethal)

  16. If we have to win AFCON we should start by beating all the teams in our group, this way we will earn respect, the rest will be formality

  17. #16 Felix must be the best of those that were left out. He was in the team originally but went for money, depending on his fathers advice, which was wrong. AFCON is where he can get a good contract. I have not seen him play but when PP decides to call him as a replacement for Mr.beers and skirts then he must be good. We will definately do better than last time and I am very conviced, “THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS” THIS TIME THINGS WILL CHANGE” but will never be the same

  18. jeff , windhoek, justice, denmark, and sibs,rsa.. happy new year fellas! its always a pleasure to read your “analysis”. Everyone that contributes to this blog, i salute you all! inspite all the bickering, and sometimes , the odd lunatic or two that happen upon this useful site; i find myself racing home twice a day, ignoring, wife, kids,beach and assignment, to hear what you all have to say! With football in the blood like this, our team will never hit bottom.We all want WINS and they will come

  19. we all hope sooner rather than later! I am surrounded by north african, and west africans here, ok, and the ka odd Boer! So i have been sending my latest design of the supporter’s kit back to Zed and Euro, so we can all be glued to the tele , whether zambia wears red, orange, white or copper, and give our lads some massive support! Our boys wont embarrass us, they will bear the flag to the bitter end.In 1993 not a single player refused to board a faulty plane; few years ago the kit was bought at

  20. a market( correct me if i’m wrong), but our lads are always proud to play for our country , inspite of lousy pay, and below average incentives, they still do their thing. I am very very proud of any player that wears the jersey of zambia. Not one of the lads is too big to do what the coach asks. Lets all show the same spirit and cheer bafipolopolo on! win or lose they still remind all of us who we really are: DIE HARD SURVIVORS! Put a zambian anywhere on earth, he will just exist; he will excel!

  21. I thought Clive Hachilensa plays for a Finnish club, but all the Zambian news papers keep reporting that he plays for Zesco Utd.

  22. #20 makai thank you for your good words, it is a step forward that we have people on this blog who can appreciate the contributions of others, for it is a rare case.

    #24 I was wondering as well, even Clifford who has joined a club in Isreal is still a Pretoria Uni. player strange.

    This a chance for Zambian players to get into Europe

  23. Though things change, zambia beat sudan to lift the cecafa championship last year. But football being what it is can be unpredictable.

    I am of the view that we take a bigger perspective, this team should be maintained for the 2010 qualifiers

  24. TUNISIA 1 : ZAMBIA 0
    MOROCCO 2 : ZAMBIA 0
    PP GIVE US THE RESULTS PLEASE WE ARE DROPPING IN FIFA RANKINGS. I DON’T SEE ZAMBIA GOING INTO THE SECOND ROUND WITH AN EXPERIMENTAL TEAM. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE TEAM THAT PLAYED SOUTH AFRICA. WE KNOW PP TACTICALLY YOU ARE POOR. CARLOS ALBERTA PEREIRA SAID IT. ZAMBIANS LET US BE SERIOUS THIS IS NOT A JOKE WE ARE WASTING MONEY, JACOB MULENGA AND JAMES CHAMANGA ARE BLUNT STRIKERS. SUNZU AND MAYUKA ARE RAW.

  25. Guyz lets be behind da boyz,they can still do something.
    Lets not lose hope and stop fearing names.
    PP IS THE MAN IN CONTROL NOW, LETS JUST PRAY FOR HIM AND REST OF THE PLAYERZ. WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT.

  26. Ya its a good line up but, i dont think sunzu is the best replacement for Mbesuma. i expected Phiri to call a bull dozer striker just to disturb the defenders by so doing Chriss and Jacob can pump in more goals because defenders will be making the bull dozer striker. The only bull dozer striker we have is Milanzi. Phiri was suppose to inlude Milanzi at all cost. we cant compare Sunzu to Milanzi NO! The guy is decleared his willingness to play for the National team.we need Tana also in our team.

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