By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant says his selection is a testament that he is taking next week’s Four-Nations friendly tournament in Malawi seriously.
Zambia will be in Lilongwe during this month’s FIFA international match window for a friendly tournament that has attracted Zimbabwe, Kenya and hosts Malawi from March 18-26.
Grant has summoned 12 foreign-based players in his 24-member team he announced on Monday in Lusaka.
However, there are some high-profile omissions with the big ones being Saudi Arabian-based Fashion Sakala, midfielder’s Edward Chilufya of Hacken in Sweden and Kings Kangwa who plays for Belgian club Kortrijk.
Also not picked is midfielder Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba who moved to Libyan club Al Nasr in January from Zesco United.
Grant, who declined to give reasons for the omissions, said the four-nations is the perfect post-2023 AFCON springboard before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E qualifiers this June against Morocco away and Tanzania at home.
“I don’t have a choice. These are the available teams. I would prefer to play against Brazil and Argentina. I always try to play against the best but teams in Africa have improved a lot,” Grant said.
“It will be a good tournament and a good test for us. Football in Africa has improved and there are no easy teams anymore.
“This is the last time that we can play friendly where we can work on our tactics and everything. We will use the four nations where we will play two games which I think is very good for seeing players and trying out new things that I want to do.”
For the friendlies, Grant has also recalled defender Kebson Kamanga who previously featured for Chipolopolo in last June’s away friendlies against Kuwait in Cairo and Morocco in Rabat.
There is also a debut call-up for ex-Zanaco midfielder Obino Chisala who plays for Costa do Sol in Mozambique.
“This is the last time that we can play friendly where we can work on our tactics and everything. We will use the four nations where we will play two games which I think is very good for seeing players and trying out new things that I want to do,” Grant said.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo’s Group E opponents Morocco, Niger and Tanzania also have busy FIFA friendly schedules in March with the latter the only team not facing African opposition.
Morocco will host two teams in Agadir starting with the 2023 AFCON quarterfinalist Angola on March 22 and Mauritania on March 27.
Tanzania are going to EuroAsia to Azerbaijan where they will play Bulgaria on March 22 and Mongolia on March 25.
Niger will be in Morocco where they will play Togo on March 22 and Burkina Faso on March 26.
But Congo-Brazzaville has yet to confirm their March-friendly itinerary with a week left before the FIFA March window opens.
GOALKEEPERS: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United)
DEFENDERS:Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Zepheniah Phiri (Prison Leopards), Stoppilla Sunzu (Cangzhou Mighty Lions, China), Frankie Musonda (Ayr United, Scotland), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Gift Mphande (Hapoel Rishon Lezion FC, Israel), Kebson Kamanga (Red Arrows)
MIDFIELDERS: Benson Sakala (Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic), Lubambo Musonda (Sikeborg IF, Denmark), Miguel Chaiwa (Club Schaffhausen, Switzerland), Emmanuel Banda (Club Rijeka, Croatia), Frederick Mulambia, Joshua Mutale (both Power Dynamos), Clatous Chama (Simba SC-Tanzania), Abraham Siankombo (Zesco United), Obinno Chisala (Costa Do Sol, Mozambique)
STRIKERS:Patson Daka (Leicester City, England), Kennedy Musonda (Young Africans,Tanzania), Andrew Phiri (Muza FC), Golden Mashata (Green Buffaloes), Lameck Banda (Lecce, Italy)
