CHAOS REIGN

…U-23 in chaotic trip to Burkina Faso with eight-hour delay at KKIA

By BENEDICT TEMBO

ZAMBIA’S Under-23 national soccer team arrived in Ouagadougou yesterday just hours before their Olympic Games match against Burkina Faso following a delay in departure from Lusaka.

The Junior Chipolopolo, who left Lusaka aboard a Kenyan charter plane at 23 hours touched down at Ouagadougou International Airport at 04 hours local time (06 hours Zambian time).

Delegation leader Jordan Maliti said that despite the delay in departure, the team remains in high spirits and is determined to make the country proud.

“Despite the delay in our departure, our hope at the end of it all is that the boys will be able to put a smile on the faces of Zambians. We thank the government for providing us with the charter plane, which will help us fulfil the back-to-back fixtures without any challenges,” said Maliti.

Maliti, who is also FAZ Lusaka Province chairperson, expressed gratitude to the Burkinabè Football Federation for the warm reception and the hospitality extended to the delegation at the hotel.

Zambia last night played Burkina Faso in the first leg of the second round of the AFCON Under-23 qualifiers at Stade du 4 Août, with kick-off set for 18 hours local time (20 hours Zambian time) last night.

Leganes B midfielder Gift Siame was the only foreign-based player who had joined the squad in Lusaka.

The other foreign-based players are expected to join the team in Ouagadougou.

The return fixture is scheduled for the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on November 15.

The fixture is part of the series to qualify for the 2027 Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The tournament will also serve as a qualification pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The travelling squad:-

Goalkeepers - Christo Chitambala (Kabwe Warriors), Anotole Bweupe (Roan United), Hendrix Kanyungulu (Green Eagles).

Defenders - Jonathan Kalimina (Kafue Celtic), Sekanji Siame (Power Dynamos), Hedson Paina Mapulanga (Green Eagles), Charles Buyoya (Aguilla), Happy Nsiku (Zesco United), Lyson Banda (Green Buffaloes), Duncan Musialela (Green Eagles).

Midfielders - Elvis Mulenga (Red Arrows), Humphrey Bwembya (Kabwe Warriors), Benjamin Saeli (Konkola Blades), David Simukonda (El Gouna, Egypt), Tumelo Mununga (CD Leganés B, Spain), Given Kalusa (FC MUZA), Gift Siame (CD Leganés B, Spain).

Strikers - Anthony Shipanuka (Zesco United), Eliya Mandanji (Red Arrows), Emmanuel Mutale (Gulf United, UAE), Pascal Phiri (Al Ittihad, Egypt) and Caleb Musonda (Kafue Celtic).

Ends.