Defender Stoppila Sunzu, renowned for netting the decisive penalty that secured Zambia’s victory in the 2012 African Cup of Nations, is set to make a return to the tournament. Coach Avram Grant named Sunzu as one of the 27 players in Zambia’s squad for the upcoming competition in the Ivory Coast.
Sunzu’s penalty kick played a crucial role in Zambia’s 8-7 victory on spot kicks against the heavily favored Ivory Coast in the 2012 final. Alongside Iraq-based Roderick Kabwe, who also has previous finals experience in 2015, Sunzu is one of the two players in the squad with prior tournament exposure.
Having missed the last three editions and failing to qualify for the 2017, 2019, and 2021 tournaments, Zambia is eager to make a mark in the upcoming competition. The team, led by coach Grant, is set to face the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening game on January 17 in San Pedro. Group F also includes matches against Tanzania and Morocco.
To prepare for the tournament, the squad will head to Saudi Arabia on Monday, where they will engage in a friendly warm-up game against Cameroon.
Zambia’s Squad:
Goalkeepers:
- Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos)
- Francis Mwansa (Green Buffaloes)
- Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United)
Defenders:
- Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos)
- Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows)
- Roderick Kabwe (Zakho)
- Gift Mphande (Hapoel Rishon Lezion)
- Frankie Musonda (Ayr United)
- Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe)
- Zephaniah Phiri (Prison Leopards)
- Stoppilla Sunzu (Jinan Xingzhou)
Midfielders:
- Emmanuel Banda (HNK Rijeka)
- Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune United)
- Miguel Chaiwa (Young Boys Berne)
- Clatous Chama (Simba)
- Edward Chilufya (Hacken)
- Kings Kangwa (Red Star Belgrade)
- Kelvin Kapumbu (Zesco United)
- Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov)
- Kelvin Mubanga (Zesco United)
- Frederick Mulambia (Power Dynamos)
- Lubambo Musonda (Silkeborg, Switzerland)
- Benson Sakala (Mlada Boleslav)
Forwards:
- Lameck Banda (Lecce)
- Patson Daka (Leicester City)
- Kennedy Musonda (Young Africans)
- Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha)
