By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant has indicated that the high-profile players axed for this month’s Four-nations friendly tournament in Malawi would be back in June for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Striker Fashion Sakala of Saudi Arabia club Al Fayha and midfielder Kings Kangwa from Belgian club Kortrijk are amongst a quartet of notables missing from the Four-nations tournament Malawi is hosting from March 18-26 in Lilongwe.
The friendly tournament has also attracted Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Grant told media in Lusaka that he was expecting a very competitive game against Zimbabwe in their opening match on March 23 who have summoned 27 foreign-based players
“Of course this is not the final squad, players that are not here will come back. The national team is for everyone who can prove themselves and the other things,” Grant said.
Also missing is midfielder Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba who joined Libyan club Al Nasr in January from Zesco United.
Headlining the Chipolopolo trip to Malawi is Leicester City striker Patson Daka, defender Frankie Musonda of Scottish second tier side Ayr United including Zambia captain and midfielder Lubambo Musonda of Danish club Sikeborg.
Ex-Zanaco midfielder Obino Chisala who plays for Costa do Sol in Mozambique gets his debut call up while Red Arrows defender Kebson Kamanga and Zesco forward Abraham Siankombo return for the first time since last June’s away friendlies against Kuwait and Morocco B.
“I think it will be a very good test because first Zimbabwe has a very good team, I saw the squad, so many players in England,” Grant said.
“Our target is not this tournament. Of course we want to win it, I want to win every game, even a friendly game but our target is the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June and the AFCON qualifiers that I think will happen September, October, November, if I am not mistaken,” he said.
“It is a good tournament for us to see a few things and I suggest to the players in the squad for the first time that you are here because you deserve to get a chance so take this opportunity and who you might have a place like two or three players after the Lesotho game.”
Winner of the Zambia versus Zimbabwe game will face Kenya or Malawi in the final on March 26 while the losers will meet in a third place playoff.
