With six hot shot strikers on the list, the 2012 BBC African Footballer of the Year leads the African champions’ squad which has been called to commence its final phase of preparations for the defense of the title they won last February in a thriller in Libreville.
“It is a squad which coach Herve Renard believes has the capability to do us the honour – and that is to go to South Africa and have a successful run at defending our title,” said FAZ spokesperson Erick Mwanza when he unveiled the list at a press briefing at Football House Monday morning.
“When he handed me the list, he told me that as usual he would go to the team hotel two days earlier. He gave one reminder: don’t forget to ensure that you carry enough equipment and personal gear because we will only be returning home on 11th February,” Mwanza said.
The 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations opens on 19th January when hosts South Africa take on debutants Cape Verde at the FNB Stadium. The final, which will be played at FNB, is set for 10th February and in the words of The Fox, the day before Zambia’s scheduled return from the finals.
There were no major surprises in the squad as Renard kept faith in the men who took Zambia to her maiden triumph in Gabon. From the squad which won the Africa Cup only Evans Kangwa and Nyambe Mulenga miss out. Youngsters Shadreck Malambo and Salulani Phiri made the squad alongside 2012 Zambian Footballer of the Year Mukuka Mulenga.
The squad’s six strikers are Dutch based top man Jacob Mulenga of FC Utrecht, inform Orlando Pirates striker Collins Mbesuma, Barclays Premiership side Southampton forward Emmanuel Mayuka. Mayuka was top scorer at the finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. James Chamanga and skipper Katongo complete the strikers’ list.
The squad has three goalkeepers; Kennedy Mweene, Kalililo Kakonje and Joshua Titima.
The Full African Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, RSA), Kakonje Kalililo (Napsa Stars), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos), Defenders: Nkausu Davies (Supersport United, RSA), Musonda Joseph (Golden Arrows, RSA), Mbola Emmanuel (FC Porto, Portugal), Sunzu Stoppila (TP Mazembe, DRC), Himoonde Hichani (TP Mazembe, DRC), Kampamba Chintu (Unattached), Phiri Salulani (Zanaco) Kasonde Francis (TP Mazembe, DRC), Midfielders: Chansa Isaac (Henan Jienye, China), Sinkala Nathan (TP Mazembe, DRC), Njobvu William (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel) Chivuta Noah (Free State Stars, RSA), Kalaba Rainford (TP Mazembe, DRC), Lungu Chisamba (FC Urals, Russia), Mulenga Mukuka (Power Dynamos), Malambo Shadreck (Red Arrows), Katongo Felix (Primero Agosto, Angola); Strikers: Mbesuma Collins (Orlando Pirates, RSA), Mulenga Jacob (FC Utrecht, Holland), Katongo Chris (Henan Jienye, China), Mayuka Emmanuel ( Southampton, England), Sakuwaha Jonas (El Mereikh, Sudan), Chamanga James (Dalian Shide, China)
Football Associatio of Zambia
Renard Names 26 for AFCON 2013 ‘We will be going back home on 11th February says Renard’ added by on
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it would have been better if you gave us the list
I agree with snatched where is the list
This selection is surely not on merit. I know Rodgers Kola is better than Chamanga and Fwayo Tembo is by far better than the Katongo brothers.
Who has given me this name?
kakonje ngaukachulapo ninshi ulisaka..all these oppurtunities knocking at your door
Remove Chamanga he has become a passanger just like nyambe mulenga, replace him with either Roga kola or Fwayo Tembo. By the way, where is that Italian Young goal keeper? Invite him on one of these friends so that we may asses his perfomance. Bane twafweni, lets not pick names or else we will be in the tournament for a rud shock, pick players on merits and according to their permances at their respective clubs.
Wat has felix katongo got to offer to the nation team together with chamanga, please ba faz twapapata, tell renard to try fwayo tembo and rodger kola, we want to defend the africa cup so assemble the necessary ammunition.
I’m sure Renard knows that all fans think they know better players than the coach. Yet they only watch a game for 90 minutes. Watch. Never practice with the team for even one day!
Kalililo kakonje is A finnished keeper!PLIZ CHECK ON OTHER CLUB GOALKEEPERS THAN this BENCH WARMER! eg ZANACO ZESCO,POWER D.KONKOLA etc.
renard waba ibolo id**t!
The coarch doesn’t just look at individal players. He see the entire team. Fwayo can be good but he doesn’t blend in very well. Felix is not sharp but knows how to make the strickers relax. GO FORWARD RENARD, YOU ARE THE BEST AFTER ALL!
Pliz ba FAZ can you remind Renar that Zambia z a christian nation n the grudge he z holding against Clifford Mulenga is describing a spirit of satanism in him.He must carry dependable material not names if we r to defend the title.All have sinned n fallen short to the glory of GOD.He must stop taking things too personal he’s on national duty n we r watching him.
IF I HAD MY WAY: CHRIS KATONGO AND NOAH CHIVUTA OUT! FWAYO TEMBO AND RODGER KOLA IN!
ah ah ah HR has been given love potion kuli ka felix
Its not Gabon where we lost the
Entire squad. It will be a different
ball game all togather. Expect the
Waste and Renard to fly straigt to
France and never come back.
RH you would have tried other players, pliz next time consider Clifford Mulenga…..its enough he can be forgiven and Roger Kola and Fwayo why leaving them you carry unattached player in C.Kampamba, Chamanga, felix mwebantu do something. Iam going to see RH and tel him off.
happy for young mulnga mukuka deco.hope he wont be a bench warmer,gud luck guys
A Millions fans i agree with you…thumbbs up you using your brains.
Lets debate about the nike sponsorship, I have been reliably informed by my South African connection that Zambia Nation Team is not 100% Sponsored by nike they purchase the Jersey from Nike, as per this letter Zambia has not yet placed an order for the 2013 Jersey, this in return will affect the replica Jersey for supporters, the replica jersey can or be on the market was once the order has been placed to nike by the country FA, please webmaster make a follow-up on this case you can not afford to have Africa Champions without proper sponsorship for the kit, if countries like Malawi and Zimbabwe can afford proper sponsorship deals then our case is embarasing