Daka, Sakala in Zambia’s squad for South Africa, Burundi friendlies

Zambia national team coach Moses Sichone has named 16 foreign-based players, including stars Patson Daka and Fashion Sakala, in the squad for friendlies against South Africa and Burundi.

The Copper Bullets will face Hugo Broos’ men at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday before taking on the Falcons in Bujumbura on November 18.

Sichone, who succeeded his former boss Avram Grant at the helm of Chipolopolo, named the Leicester City forward Daka and his Saudi Arabia’s Al Fayha counterpart in the squad.

Another notable inclusion in the squad is evergreen China-based defender Stoppilla Sunzu, the only surviving member from the 2012 African Cup of Nations (AFCON)-winning squad.

The Yatai FC man will now be coached by his former team mates Kennedy Mweene, who manned the posts when Zambia beat Ivory Coast to win the sole AFCON title in Gabon. Mweene has been appointed the national team’s goalkeepers’ coach, a role he also holds at Mamelodi Sundowns.

Get to know rookies in Zambia’s squad

Sichone has also called up new players namely Zanaco’s Eliya Mandanji, FC Muza’s Solomon Mpasela, Kabwe Warriors’ Yoram Chanda and Mutondo Stars defender Aaron Musonda.

Zambia are fine-tuning for the 2025 AFCON scheduled for Morocco in December, having been drawn in Group A alongside the Atlas Lions, Mali and Comoros.

Zambia’s provisional squad

(GOALKEEPERS); Mangani Banda (Kabwe Warriors), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco), Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos).

(DEFENDERS); Owen Mwamba (Mufulira Wanderers), Sunzu (Yatai FC-China), Yoram Chanda, Killian Kanguluma (both Kabwe Warriors), Aaron Musonda (Mutondo Stars), Kabaso Chongo, Gift Mphande (both Zesco United), Benson Sakala (Bohemians 1905-Czech Republic), Mathews Banda (Nkana), Obinno Chisala (El Merreikh-Sudan), Lubambo Musonda (Magdeburg-Germany), David Hamansenya (Leganes-Spain).

(MIDFIELDERS); Owen Tembo, Frederick Mulambia (Power Dynamos), Given Kalusa, Solomon Mpasela, Kelvin Mwanza (all FC Muza), Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian-Scotland), Humphrey Bweembya (Kabwe Warriors), Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be’er Sheva-Israel), Gift Siame (Leganes-Spain), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco FC), Kelvin Kampamba, David Simukonda (both Zesco), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari-Italy).

(FORWARDS); Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Joseph Sabobo Banda (Hapoel Be’er Sheva-Israel), Rickson Ng’ambi (Muza FC), Sakala (Al Fayha-Saudi Arabia), Pascal Phiri (Zesco United), Albert Kangwanda (Red Arrows), Daka (Leicester-England), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat-Israel), Kingston Mutandwa (SV Reid, Austria), Elia Mandanji (Zanaco), Andrew Phiri (Singida Black Stars-Tanzania).