Christopher Katongo and Isaac Chansa will headline Zambia’s campaign at the 2016 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) after making the final cut.
Katongo and Chansa of Green Buffaloes and Zanaco respectively will be making their debut appearance at the CHAN finals just four years after winning the latter tournaments flagship event the 2012 Africa Cup co-hosted by Gabon annd Equatorial Guinea.
CHAN is a second tier Africa Cupo exclusively for domestic-based players.
Also in the team are Zesco United goalkeeper Jacob Banda and Zanaco defender George Chilufya.
The duo are the only survivors from Zambia’s only other CHAN appearance back in 2009 when Chipolopolo won bronze at the inaugural tournament hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, axed are Zanaco goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata including defenders Boyd Mkandawire of Napsa and Benedict Chepeshi Red Arrows.
And Zambia are expected to leave for Johannesburg on Friday where they have one friendly on the cards against Angola.
Zambia are in Group D at the CHAN that will run from January 16 to February 7.
They will in their Group D fixtures face Zimbabwe in their opening match on January 19, Uganda on January 23 and Mali on January 27.
Team
Goalkeepers: Jacob Banda (Zesco United), Racha Kola (Zanaco), Lawrence Mulenga (Kabwe Warriors)
Defenders: Christopher Munthali (Power Dynamos), George Chilufya (Zanaco), Donashano Malama (Nkana), Buchizya Mfune, Adrian Chgama, Stephen Kabamba (All Green Buffaloes), Dauti Musekwa (Zesco United), Solomon Sakala (Kabwe Warriors)
Midfielders: Benson Sakala (Power Dynamos), Mwape Mwelwa, Cletus Chota (both Zesco United), Spencer Sautu, Mwila Phiri (both Green Eagles), Salulani Phiri, Isaac Chansa (Zanaco), Jack Chirwa (Green Buffaloes)
Strikers:Conlyde Luchanga, Patson Daka (both Power Dynamos), Adamson Mulao (Green Eagles), Christopher Katongo (Green Buffaloes)
Chepeshi guys Chepeshi. Give us some reasons. These is the problem with Zambian football.
@kci, you can’t select players from the media, you have to be at the training ground to see their current form.
Patson Daka is back!!
The defense is solid this time around.
Why are sidelining the local players who have been playing for the national team and have played recent international games like the the africa and world cup qualifiers? Katongo and Chansa for me were selected by the media. What reasons can you give us for leaving out chepeshi and Patrick Ngoma?
my friend Patrick ngoma is not a domestic player… he should be in Egypt
Good luck guys. Do your best we are behind you.
That is good to leave chipeshi out. Boy is not yet there.
chepeshi is a suspect. i saw him when zambia played the black mambas. chepeshi was exposed by the yellow guy only to be relived by musekwa.
but i dont know why the coach like this guy but its good that our coach has started seeing what we used to talk about.
Patson Daka my God what does this boy possess that we cant see in the Zambian League I smile a RAT at Power Dynamos the boy cant even make the starting XI and yet his always selected on what criteria I don’t know.
That’s FAZ for you, its nichekeleko mentality even selection of Players, worse when it comes to hearing cases by the so called disciplinary committee where culprits are favored due to Positions of their bosses at Faz. God help us. Remember even the once Mighty and untouchable Sep Blatter and Micheal Platini today are toothless. FBI & CIA are surely coming to Zambia. Watch the Space.
think FBI and CIA have more imporant things to worry about