By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says the Chipolopolo are on course for qualification for the 2023 TotalEnegies Africa Cup of Nations to be played in 2024 in Ivory Coast.
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga said the association’s immediate task in the new year is to focus on the March back-to-back qualifiers against Lesotho.
Kamanga noted that with the new coach Avram Grant in place, FAZ has no doubt that the team will be entering the New Year with renewed vigour.
Kamanga reaffirmed FAZ’s commitment to accord the team quality preparations for the March engagements against Lesotho.
“We are mindful of the limited time within which we can have full international friendly matches, but we will liaise with the technical bench to ensure that the team is well prepared. We will do the same for the Copper Queens as they prepare for the World Cup,” Kamanga said.
“We have every reason to be optimistic about the prospects of 2023 as we know that the ground laid in 2022 is fertile enough to ensure that we achieve greater results,” he added.
Kamanga said his association is extremely excited at the prospects of the under-17 and U-20 lads participating at Africa Cup of Nations while the Under-23 squad is one round away from qualifying to the AFCON.
“We are even more excited that the senior Women National Team will be among the 32 nations at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July.
“With the FIFA window coming up next month, our World Cup bound Copper Queens will be in action with several prospective opponents already on the table. Our plan is to host an international friendly on home soil for the Copper Queens as part of staging a befitting send-off before the ever-supportive home fans.
Kamanga confirmed the availability of several top teams looking to test themselves against the Copper Queens.
“With all our top players now available for selection for national duty, we have no doubt that we will have a strong team,” Kamanga said.
