Zambia caretaker coach Aggrey Chiyangi has named a 24-man squad for the second week of preparations for the 2019 COSAFA Cup to be staged in Durban from May 25-June 8.
Chiyangi has kept the core of the squad that attended the first came, including star forward Lazarus Kambole, who will be keen to catch the eye of scouts at the tournament.
The squad is without players from Nkana FC, who have matches still to complete in the Zambian season. Included for the second week is goalkeeper Lufeyo Daka, who hails from Division One Zone One outfit Romeki FC, and Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos). They come in for Toaster Nsabata (Zanaco) and Kelvin Malunga (Nkana).
Other players to get the call are Benedict Chepeshi, Stanley Nshimbi and George Simbayambaya (all Red Arrows), and Marvin Jere (Lusaka Dynamos). Zambia will join the competition at the quarter-final stage where they will clash with the winner of Group B, which includes Mozambique, 2015 winners Namibia, Malawi and Seychelles.
Zambia are four-time winners of the COSAFA Cup but have been to 10 finals in all. Their previous title was in 2013 on home soil. Chipolopolo won both first two editions of the COSAFA Cup in 1997 and 1998, but it took until 2006 for them to claim their third regional title.
Zambia training squad:
Goalkeepers: Sebastian Mwange (Green Eagles), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Lufeyo Daka (Romeki FC)
Defenders: Gift Zulu (Nkana), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Lawrence Chungu (Zanaco), Mwila Phiri (Zesco United), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), Isaac Shamujopma (Buildcon), Thandi Mwape (Kabwe Warriors)
Midfielders: Benson Sakala (Power Dynamos), Bruce Musakanya, Stanley Nshimbi, George Simbayambaya (all Red Arrows), Clement Mundia (Kabwe Warriors), Austin Muwowo, Webster Muzaza (all Forest Rangers), Marvin Jere (Lusaka Dynamos), Ernest Mbewe (Zanaco)
Strikers: Lazarous Kambole (Zesco United), Chitiya Mususu (Zanaco), Tapson Kaseba (Green Eagles), Emmanuel Chabula (Nkwazi)
