By Kalumiana Kalumiana
Chipolopolo goalkeeper Francis Mwansa says their 2025 CHAN Group A looks tough but nothing is impossible for Zambia as they settle down in Kenya for the month-long tournament.
Zambia arrived in Nairobi on Saturday for the 2025 CHAN that is being co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from August 2 to 30.
CHAN is a second-tier AFCON exclusively for domestic league-based players.
Mwansa told FAZ Media in Nairobi yesterday that Chipolopolo are going to work hard to do better than their last three quarterfinal exits.
Chipolopolo arrived in Nairobi on the day the CHAN kicked off after a three-week local training camp in Lusaka under coach Avram Grant.
“What is remaining for us players is to work according to what the coach has planned. Otherwise, we will work hard and give it our best,” Mwansa said.
Chipolopolo also arrived five days before playing their opening Group A match on August 7 against 2-time CHAN champions DR Congo in Nairobi.
DR Congo is also one of two 2-time CHAN winners in Group A together with Morocco.
Angola comes to the tournament with a strong reputation as back-to-back 2024 and 2025 COSAFA Cup champions while hosts Kenya complete Group A.
“The group is tough but we have to work as a team and we believe in ourselves and everything is possible,” Mwansa said.
Group A action kicked off yesterday but fortunately for latecomers Zambia are on bye and will only play on August 7 against DR Congo.
But Grant and his technical bench yesterday had the luxury of watching DR Congo in their opening Group A fixture against Kenya on Sunday afternoon.
Morocco and Angola were also in action in the second kickoff of the day last night.
Match scheduling has been spread out by the tournament organisers because for the unprecedented five team per-group at the 19-nation championship that see Group D as the only pool with 4 teams.
