Himoonde backs Lwandamina but wants Zambia to make move permanent

Former Zambia international Hichani Himoonde has supported the hiring of veteran coach George Lwandamina but called on Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to hire him on a permanent basis.

In a statement issued last Thursday, FAZ acting Deputy General Secretary Iva Lengwe confirmed the return of Lwandamina to lead the national team and further said the changes were aimed at enhancing efficiency and strengthening the team’s performance.

George Lwandamina appointed Chipolopolo interim coach, replacing Sichone, with Oswald Mutapa jr. as assistant. Lwandamina’s first task: lead Zambia to the Four-Nation Tournament in Botswana (March 23-31). Thoughts pic.twitter.com/d3rLRjxokw

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Lengwe said Lwandamina will take over in an interim capacity and will be assisted by Power Dynamos coach Oswald Mutapa jr. The appointment of Lwandamina came after FAZ had opted to excuse Moses Sichone in the aftermath of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Lwandamina is an experienced coach

“We are coming from interim head coach Moses Sichone to another interim coach; when will we see maybe a local coach get the full-time role?” Himoonde, who won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Zambia, told Bola News.

“George Lwandamina is an experienced coach, who has been part of the game for a long time, and he knows what it takes to be in charge of the national team. I’m equally happy to see coach Mutapa because he has done very well with Power Dynamos in the league.”

He added: “Now it is a matter of looking for a permanent coach to take us through the qualifiers. Will the association stick to the local or bring in a foreign coach? That’s an important question that needs to be sorted before the next qualifiers to maintain the team’s momentum.

Local coaches deserve permanent deals

“I would support the appointment of a local coach for the permanent position, but the terms have been too equal to what a foreign coach gets; that way it keeps them motivated to do more for the country.”

After the appointment of Lwandamina, Zambia veteran administrator Patrick Tembo came out to question the decision by FAZ.

Lwandamina’s immediate assignment will be to lead the national team to the Four-Nation Tournament scheduled to take place in Francistown, Botswana, from March 23 to 31, 2026.

He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously coached several clubs in Zambia and other parts of Africa. His familiarity with the local football structure and many players in the national setup could help the team quickly adjust ahead of upcoming fixtures.

However, the success of his second stint with the Chipolopolo will largely depend on how quickly the technical bench can organise the squad and deliver positive results.

The upcoming Four-Nation Tournament in Botswana will therefore serve as an important test for Lwandamina and his technical team.

The tournament will provide the players with valuable match experience as Zambia begins preparations for the next international assignments, including the qualification path toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Fans will be hoping the tournament can help the team regain confidence and build momentum under the returning coach.