FIFAWCQ: Avram Grant summons Zambia squad to face Tanzania, Niger

Zambia national team head coach Avram Grant has summoned 26 players for the back-to-back Group E FIFA World qualifiers against Tanzania and Niger in October.

The former Chelsea tactician has retained the core of the squad that featured in the game against Morocco on September 8 in Ndola.

In the goalkeeping department, Grant has handed a debut call up for in-form Nkana shot-stopper Patrick Chooma while a litany of youngsters like Mathews Banda, Gift Siame, Joseph Sabobo Banda, Miguel Chaiwa, Gift Mphande and David Hamansenya have made the cut with Tanzania based Clatous Chama back in the fold.

Zambia to use qualifiers to prepare for 2025 AFCON

The squad is a mix of foreign and local based players with Zambia looking to use the final FIFA World Cup qualifiers partly as preparatory grounds for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which kicks off in December.

The Chipolopolo will face Tanzania on Wednesday, October 8 in Zanzibar at the Amani Stadium before hosting Niger on October 12 in Ndola to conclude their Group E assignment.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD

(GOALKEEPERS); Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Patrick Chooma (Nkana).

(DEFENDERS); Mathews Banda (Nkana), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain FC-Bahrain), Kabaso Chongo, Gift Mphande (both Zesco United), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Obinno Chisala (El Merreikh-Sudan), David Hamasenya (Leganes-Spain), Killian Kanguluma (Kabwe Warriors).

(MIDFIELDERS); Gift Siame (Leganese-Spain), Benson Sakala (Bohemians-Czech), Kelvin Kapumbu (Konkola Blades), Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian-Scotland), Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be’erSheva-Israel), Emmanuel Banda (Maccabi Bnei Reineh-Israeli), Lubambo Musonda (FC Magdeburg-Germany).

(FORWARDS); Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha-Saudi Arabia), Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Clatous Chama (Singida-Tanzania), Edward Chilufya (Midtylland-Denmark), Patson Daka (Leicester-England), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan-Israel), Joseph Sabobo Banda (Hapoel Be’erSheva-Israel) , Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United).