By MICHAEL MIYOBA
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has secured a Christmas date for the Under-23 Zambia National Soccer team that is set to take on Kuwait on December 25th at the 60, 000 capacity Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.
According to a memo sent to clubs for the release of players, FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala noted that the Zambia Under-23 squad would enter camp on December 18 and break immediately after the friendly against Kuwait.
“The Zambia Under-23 is scheduled to play Kuwait national team in a friendly match. It is from this background that we write to request for your assistance to release the players to join the Zambia national team camp from Sunday December 18th to 27th. They will be released immediately after the tournament,” read the memo signed by Kashala.
The friendly against Kuwait is being used as preparatory fixture for the crucial final qualifying round of the Morocco 2023 Under-23 AFCON.
Zambia will face Egypt in the final round of the Morocco 2023 U23 AFCON Qualifiers slated for March 2023.
The Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations which will also act as qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games, will take place in July next year with the first three teams earning direct qualification to the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Zambia Under-23 National team head coach Oswald Mutapa has named a 25 member squad for the Christmas date with Kuwait.
Mutapa has named a competitive squad consisting of Andrew Phiri, the lethal striker from MUZA FC, Enock Sakala from Zesco United and upcoming promising shot stopper, Jeban Tembo.
Other promising young stars summoned by Mutapa include, Joshua Mutale and Patrick Gondwe from Power Dynamos and Nkana FC respectively while Jimmy Mukeya joins the Squad from NAPSA Stars.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers
- Jeban Tembo (Red Arrows)
- Patrick Chooma (Prison Leopards)
- Mukuka Chilufya (Shamuel)
- Francis Mwansa (Trident)
Defenders
- Emmanuel Bwalya Chembe
- Andrew Phiri
- Mathews Chabala (All Nchanga Rangers)
- John Chishimba (ZESCO United)
- Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows)
- Ronald Mwansa Chileshe (FC MUZA)
- Gift Prosper Mphande (Atletico Lusaka)
- Shapy Chikondi Njobvu (Green Eagles)
Midfielders
- Patrick Gondwe (Nkana)
- Dalitso Phiri (ZANACO )
- Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos)
- John Kosamu (Green Buffaloes)
- Dominic Kanda (Shamuel )
- Joy Yolamu (Prison Leopards)
- Mwiya Mwiya (FC MUZA)
Strikers
- Enock Sakala Jnr (ZESCO United)
- Derrick Bulaya (Green Eagles)
- Andrew Phiri (FC MUZA)
- Jimmy Mukeya (NAPSA Stars)
- Wilson Shosho Chisala (Zanaco)
