4 U-20 stars in COSAFA squad

Sun, 25 Jun 2017 10:34:57 +0000

By Michael Miyoba

FOUR players in the U-20 have joined a 27-man squad that will represent Zambia at 17th edition of the COSAFA Cup tournament which kicks off in South Africa today.

National team head coach Wedson Nyirenda named the four U-2o players as Moses Nyondo, Solomon Sakala, Emmanuel Banda and Conlyde Luchanga.

Nyirenda said the junior Chipolopolo players were included in the COSAFA squad following their superb performance at the Africa Cup of Nations which Zambia won and went on to make history to reach the quarter finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.

The four will be joined by local players Paul Katema from Green Buffaloes, Lusaka Dynamos’s Mwansa Nsofwa and Lubinda Mundia who featured for the international friendly against South Africa which Zambia won 2-1 after coming from behind. The squad will be without influential players from Zanaco and Zesco United who have been excused due to clubs’ participation in the CAF Champions league.

The 2017 Cosafa Castle Cup kicks off with Tanzania facing Malawi and Mauritius engaging Angola in group A while Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Seychelles and Mozambique will do battle in group B.

And four times champions, Zambia will join the race at the quarter final stage with a tie against Botswana on July 1 at the Moruleng Stadium.

FULL SQUAD

(GOALKEEPERS)

Charles Mweemba (Lumwana Radiants FC)

Allan Chibwe (Power Dynamos)

Kelvin Malunga (Nkana FC)

(DEFENDERS)

Donashano Malama, Given Sinyangwe, Moses Nyondo (Nkana FC)

Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), Eric Chomba (Nkwazi FC), Isaac Samujomba (Nchanga Rangers FC), Solomon Sakala (Napsa Stars), Webster Mulenga (Red Arrows FC), Mwansa Nsofwa (Lusaka Dynamos FC), Lawrence Chungu (Power Dynamos)

(MIDFIELDERS)

Mwila Phiri (Green Eagles), Diamond Chikwekwe, Jack Chirwa Mike Katiba, Brian Mwila (Green Buffaloes FC), Paul Katema (Red Arrows FC), Collins Sikombe (Napsa Stars FC), Emmanuel Banda (Sporting Clube Esmoriz, Portugal), Godfrey Ngwenya (Power Dynamos FC),

(STRIKERS)

Chitiya Mususu (Napsa Stars FC), Justin Shonga (Nkwazi FC), Conlyde Luchanga (Lusaka Dynamos) Lubinda Mundia (Red Arrows FC), Musonda Mwape (Black Leopards FC)