…Daka, Kangwa in as Grant names crack provsional squad for Comoros
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZAMBIA national team coach Avram Grant has named a 27-member provisional squad set to enter camp on September 4 for the final Group H Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Comoros.
Zambia will face Comoros on September 9 and Grant has kept faith in the bulk of the players that helped the team qualify to the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to be played in January next year.
Grant has named 2012 Afcon winner Evans Kangwa in the provisional squad which is without suspended Saudi Arabia-based Fashion Sakala who accumulated two successive yellow cards in the previous qualifiers.
The China-based Kangwa returns to the Chipolopolo set up exactly a year after he donned national colours in the September 2022 FIFA window friendly against Mali in Bamako.
Grant has also named midfielder Benson Sakala of FK Mlada Bolesslav – Czech Republic, Forest Rangers’ Moyela Libamba and Patson Daka who is yet to make an appearance for Leicester City since it was relegated from the English Premier League.
The Chipolopolo top Group H with 12 points, two better than Ivory Coast who will be hosting Lesotho and have already qualified as hosts.
Comoros lies third with six points and will be playing for pride having already fallen out of the race for the AFCON.
Full squad:
GOALKEEPERS – Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Green Buffaloes), Victor Chabu (Nchanga Rangers).
DEFENDERS – Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Killian Kanguluma (Kabwe Warriors), Stoippila Sunzu (Jinan Xingzhou – China), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe – DRC), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Frankie Musonda (AYR United – Scotland), Roderick Kabwe (Zakho Sports Club – Iraq), John Chishimba, Pride Mwansa (both Zesco United)
MIDFIELDERS – Benson Sakala (FK Mlada Bolesslav – Czech Republic), Kelvin Kapumbu (Zesco United), Kings Kangwa (Crvena Zvezda – Serbia), Emmanuel Banda (HNK Rijeka – Croatia), Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov-Czech Republic), Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune – South Africa), Clatous Chama (Simba SC -Tanzania), Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United), Lubambo Musonda (Silkeborg IF – Denmark), Lameck Banda (Lecce – Italy), Edward Chilufya (Midtjylland – Denmark).
STRIKERS – Evans Kangwa (Qingdao Hainiu – China), Moyela Libamba (Forest Rangers) and Patson Daka (Leicester City – England).
