MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
@SunZambia
THE Zambia national soccer team leaves for Morocco this evening to participate in an invitational friendly tournament, says FAZ deputy general secretary Joseph Chimpampwe.
Chimpampwe confirmed to the Sun Sport in an interview that the team regrouped on Monday and would depart for Casablanca today.
Chimpampwe said that all the players that had been summoned by stand-in coach Bestone Chambeshi had reported and the team was injury free with an exception of defender Stopilla Sunzu who was nursing an injury.
He said Ziyo Tembo was also a doubt for the trip as he was still being assessed by the team Doctor.
Chambeshi named five Europe-based stars in his squad as Redbull Salzburg duo of strikers Patson Daka and midfielder Enock Mwepu, KV Oostende’s Fashion Sakala and Emmanuel Banda.
The local players summoned include Nkana duo of defender Moses Nyondo and goalkeeper Allan Chibwe.
Others Klings Kangwa of Buildcon, Shemmy Mayembe of ZESCO United and Nkwazi duo Kebby Kamanga and Charles Muntanga.
Missing from the list is Tanzania-based midfielder Clatous Chota Chama.
The Morocco trip was an invitation from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation which will host the Chipolopolo Boys from June 6 – 17 as part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the two countries in 2017.
Morocco and Cameroon are using the friendly games against the 2012 AfCON Champions in preparation for the 2019 Egypt Africa Cup of Nations.
Chambeshi on the other hand is using the games as part of preparation for the Under-23 AfCON qualifier against Congo Brazzaville scheduled for September 5.
Zambia will play reigning African champions Cameroon on June 9 in Madrid with another match set for June 12 against Gambia in Casablanca.
The team will conclude its assignment with a match against the Herve Renard tutored Morocco on June 16.
FULL SQUAD
(GOALKEEPERS)
Allan Chibwe (Nkana), Charles Muntanga (Nkwazi)
(DEFENDERS)
Kabaso Chongo (TP Mazembe-DRC), Stoppilla Sunzu (FC Metz-France), Ziyo Tembo
(Al Shoula-Saudi Arabia), Kebson Kamanga (Nkwazi), Paul Banda (Lusaka Dynamos),
Moses Nyondo (Nkana), Shemmy Mayembe (Zesco United)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Donashano Malama (Chippa United-RSA), Gamphani Lungu (SuperSport United-RSA),
Salulani Phiri (Polokwane City-RSA), Enock Mwepu (Red Bull Salzburg-Austria),
Emmanuel Banda (AS Beziers-France), Kings Kangwa (Buildcon), Justin Shona,
Augustine Mulenga (both Orlando Pirates-RSA),
(STRIKERS)
Patson Daka (Red Bull-Austria), Fashion Sakala (KV Oostende-Belgium),Mwape
Musonda (Black Leopards-RSA)
