Zambia departs for pre-AFCON camp in Spain

Zambia national team have departed for Spain to begin their final round of preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The 22-member contingent, made up mainly of local players except for Fashion Sakala and Stopilla Sunzu, together with the technical staff, left Lusaka on Airlink Airlines at 14:30 hours from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

The team will be joined by their foreign-based teammates in Murcia, Spain for the international camp. The Spain camp will run from December 11-17, 2025, in the city of Murcia.

Zambia will start their campaign against Mali

Earlier on Wednesday, coach Moses Sichone announced his 28-man squad for the AFCON tournament. Austria-based striker Jack Kalichi Lahne, who scored on his Chipolopolo debut during the last FIFA window, made the list while Joseph Liteta of Cagliari in Italy was also included.

Fresh call-ups from the MTN Super League included Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco), Matthews Banda, Given Kalusa (FC Muza), Matthews Banda (Nkana) and Pascal Phiri (Zesco United). Other notable newbies were goalkeeper Willard Mwanza and Owen Tembo (both of Power Dynamos) and David Simukonda (Zanaco).

Two standout performers from the FIFA U17 World Cup, Jonathan Kalimina and Abel Nyirongo, were retained as standby players with FC MUZA’s Kelvin Mwanza completing the list for the Spain camp.

The Chipolopolo will kick off their campaign against Mali on December 22 at Stade Mohammed V, before taking on Comoros at the same venue on December 26. Their final group fixture will be against Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on December 29.

Full 28-man Zambia squad;

Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos).

Defenders: Stopilla Sunzu (Changchun, China), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain SC), Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United), Matthews Banda (Nkana), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Gift Mphande (Zesco United), Obino Chisala (Al-Merrikh SC, Sudan), David Hamasenya (Leganes, Spain), Benson Sakala (Bohemians 1905, Czech Rep).

Midfielders: Miguel Changa Chaiwa (Hibernian, Scotland), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari, Italy), Kings Kangwa (Maccabi Be’er Sheva, Israel), Given Kalusa (FC MUZA), David Simukonda (Zesco United), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Joseph Sabobo Banda (Maccabi Be’er Sheva, Israel), Lameck Banda (Lecce, Italy), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Lubambo Sailas Musonda (Magdeburg, Germany), Pascal Phiri (Zesco United).

Strikers: Patson Daka (Leicester City, England), Jack Lahne Kalichi (Austria Lustenau, Austria), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan, Israel), Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco).

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