Simukonda names crack squad

UNDER-23 national team coach Fighton Simukonda has named 21 players for the African Under-23 Championship kicking off in Senegal on Saturday.
Armenia-based midfielder Lubambo Musonda, Zimbabwean side Platinum Stars forward Obrey Chirwa and Egypt-based strikers Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba and Patrick Ngoma are the four professionals Simukonda has summoned.
Lubambo and Kampamba will join the team in Dakar, Senegal, while Chirwa and Ngoma were expected in Lusaka yesterday.
The junior Chipolopolo are expected to leave for Dakar tomorrow.
The team includes eight players that were part of the Chipolopolo side that bashed Sudan 3-0 on aggregate to qualify for the 2018 Russia World Cup group stage.
The eight are goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata, defenders Benedict Chepeshi and Boyd Mkandawire, midfielders Jackson Chirwa, Paul Katema, Spencer Sautu and Lubambo, and striker Conlyde Luchanga.

Luchanga scored nine goals in the Super Division as Lusaka Dynamos finished 14th on the log with 29 points.
Mufulira Wanderers defender Taonga Bwembya, a free-kick specialist, who was drafted into the team three weeks ago, has made the cut.
Football Association of Zambia communications manager Nkweto Tembwe released the list in Lusaka yesterday.
Zambia are in Group A alongside South Africa, Tunisia and hosts Senegal, while Group B has Algeria, Egypt, Mali and Nigeria.
The top three teams will book tickets to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games while the fourth-placed team will play in a play-off against an Asian side.
The team:
Goalkeepers: Toaster Nsabata, Kenny Mumba, Lawrence Mulenga.
Defenders: Benedict Chepeshi, Boyd Mkandawire, Taonga Bwembya, Kapota Kayawe, Solomon Sakala and Billy Mutale.
Midfielders: Jackson Chirwa, Paul Katema, Benson Sakala, Salulani Phiri, Spencer Sautu, John Ching’andu and Lubambo Musonda.
Strikers: Ronald Kampamba, Patrick Ngoma, Conlyde Luchanga, Obrey Chirwa and Friday Samu.

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