Zambia Under-23 national team assistant coach Bilton Musonda says competition for places between local and foreign based players will be stiff ahead of the Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo Brazzaville.
Musonda told Fazambia.com that the players in camp were working very hard knowing how competitive the squad.
He said that the technical bench had come up with a perfect mesh from the graduates from 2017 Under-20 winning side and new call ups to challenge for qualification.
“The new call ups are doing fine, they have brought competition to the squad. It is helping making a formidable side. We just have to prepare adequately for Congo Brazzaville,” he said.
“It will not be easy for us to pick a team but we need to do it. It will give us a good dimension to come up with a good side.”
Musonda hailed FAZ for having attached importance to the u23 squad as they chase for Olympic qualification.
“I think as FAZ they are doing their best to make sure that we are prepared. They have even planned to camp the team outside,” he said.
Preparations for the Egypt 2019 AFCON qualifier have entered week two with foreign based players expected to join in the final stages of the preparation.
Kabwe Warriors players are expected to join camp today as they had a league match on Sunday with Nkana players exempted owing to league outstanding engagements.
Zambia qualified to the final round after defeating Malawi 2-0 over two legs and will face Congo Brazzaville in the final qualifying round.
Top three teams at the AFCON in Egypt will qualify to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Zambia was last at the Olympics in 1988.
Tickets are already on sale in Shoprite via Computicket.
(FULL SQUAD)
(GOALKEEPERS)
Charles Muntanga (Nkwazi), Lameck Siame (Kitwe United), Jackson Kalunta (Power Dynamos), Samson Banda (Zesco United)
(DEFENDERS)
Kebson Kamanga, Prosper Chiluya (Nkwazi), Wayne Museba, Field Kandela, Zakaria Chilongoshi (all Kabwe Warriors), Paul Banda (Lusaka Dynamos), Shemmy Mayembe (Zesco), Clifford Saidi (Power Dynamos), Benson Chali (Forest Rangers)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Edward Tembo (Zesco United), Kings Kangwa, Lameck Banda, Ngosa Sunzu (all Buildcon), Biston Banda (Circuit City), Prince Mumba, Musonda Siame (Lumwana Radiants), Benson Kolala (Forest Rangers), Linos Makwaza (Power Dynamos), Lewis Maimba (Nkwazi)
(STRIKERS)
Twiza Chaibela (Kabwe Warriors), Francisco Mwepu (Kafue Celtic), Satty Phiri (Circuit City)
