The 2012 Afcon winners come into the tournament on the back of a second place finish in qualifying group F. They finished behind the Cape Verde Islands in a campaign that included 3 wins, 2 draws and a single defeat. Chipolopolo will want to prove that they have enough in their locker to be recognised as an African giant.
Group B
Association Crest Source: Wikipedia
National Flag Source: Picture Museum
Name: Zambia
Nickname: Chipolopolo (meaning The Bullets)
FIFA Ranking: 50
ELO Ranking: 79
CAF Ranking: 11
Previous Afcon: Zambia won the Afcon tournament in 2012, but failed to go past the group stages the following year. They qualified for Afcon 2015 by finishing second in their qualifying group.
The Coach: Honour Janza
A local Zambian coach, Honour Janza was chosen as the most suitable candidate to replace Frenchman Herve Renard as national team coach. Having learnt his way around the national team setup and acquired extensive knowledge of the Chipolopolo way of football, Janza will be looking to prove that the Zambian FA’s decision to appoint him was indeed a masterstroke.
THE SQUAD
Captain: Rainford Kalaba
Average Age: 24
GOALKEEPERS:
Name: Danny Munyao Age: 27 Position: Goalkeeper Club: Red Arrows, Zambia
Name: Kennedy Mweene Age: 30 Position: Goalkeeper Club: Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa
Name: Joshua Titima Age: 22 Position: Goalkeeper Club: Power Dynamos, Zambia
DEFENDERS:
Name: Donashano Malama Age: 27 Position: Centre Back Club: Nkana, Zambia
Name: Christopher Muthali Age: 23 Position: Centre Back Club: Nkana, Zambia
Name: Rodrick Kabwe Age: 22 Position: Centre Back Club: Zanaco, Zambia
Name: Davies Nkausu Age: 29 Position: Right Back Club: Bloemfontein Celtic, South Africa
Name: Stoppila Sunzu Age: 25 Position: Centre Back Club: Shanghai Greeenland, China
Name: Emmanuel Mbola Age: 21 Position: Left Back Club: Hapoel Ra’anana
MIDFIELDERS:
Name: Chisamba Lungu Age: 23 Position: Right Winger Club: Urai Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
Name: Spencer Sautu Age: 20 Position: Attacking Midfielder Club: Green Eagles, Zambia
Name: Mukuka Mulenga Age: 21 Position: Attacking Midfielder Club: Bloemfontein Celtic, South Africa
Name: Bruce Musakanya Age: 21 Position: Midfielder Club: Red Arrows, Zambia
Name: Lubambo Musonda Age: 19 Position: Left Midfielder Club: Ulisses, Armenia
Name: Kondwani Mtonga Age: 28 Position: Midfielder Club: Shillong Lajong
Name: Rainford Kalaba Age: 28 Position: Left Winger Club: TP Mazembe
Name: Nathan Sinkala Age: 23 Position: Defensive Midfielder Club: Grasshopper, Switzerland
Name: Jackson Mwanza Age: 17 Position: Attacking Midfielder Club: Zesco United, Zambia
FORWARDS:
Name: Ronald Kampamba Age: 23 Position: Striker Club: Nkana, Zambia
Name: Evans Kangwa Age: 20 Position: Striker Club: Hapoel Ra’anana
Name: Given Singuluma Age: 28 Position: Centre Forward Club: TP Mazembe
Name: Emmanuel Mayuka Age: 24 Position: Centre Forward Club: Southampton, England
Name: Patrick Ngoma Age: 21 Position: Forward Club: Red Arrows, Zambia
WORD ON THE STANDS
The Zambian side has shown that they have the players and the mental strength to reach the final and even lift the Afcon trophy. Following their 2012 triumph, the Zambian nation has come to expect a high standard of football from their national side, and with their failure to reach the quarterfinals in 2013, this tournament provides the perfect chance to make amends. With Herve Renard having moved on to coach the Ivory Coast, the task has moved on to local coach Honour Janza, who will be relishing the chance to make a name for himself on the managerial stage.
