Mulwanda names 20-member COSAFA crack squad 

Zambia U20 Men National Team coach Boyd Mulwanda has named his final 20-man squad for the COSAFA Under-20 Championship to be held in Mozambique from September 26 – October 5.

The Young Chipolopolo will be heading to Maputo in search of their 13th COSAFA crown and a place at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations next year.

Mulwanda has picked a strong squad of 20 players comprising four players from the U20 AFCON 2023 in goalkeepers Levison Banda, Eric Musonda Makungu and defenders Happy Nsiku and Mathews Banda.

NAPSA Stars striker Emmanuel Mwanza, who scored three goals at the U17 AFCON 2023 in Algeria has also made the squad alongside his fellow U17 graduates Aaron Mbemba Phiri, Sekanji Siame, Perkins Mumba Mwale, Tryson Banda and Aaron Simpasa.

Zambia will open their title hunt against Angola on 27 September before a date against Namibia on 1 October. All Group B matches will be played at the ABB Stadium 1 in Maputo.

Group A has hosts Mozambique, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana while South Africa, Malawi, Comoros and Lesotho complete Group C.

Only the top team in each group and the best-placed runner-up across the three groups will qualify to the semifinals where a place in the finals will take the two teams to the continental tournament.

FINAL SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

Levison Banda (ZESCO United), Eric Makungu (Shamuel Academy)

DEFENDERS

Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows), Mathews Banda (Nkana FC), Fostine Mwenya (Aero Strikers), Samuel Ngulube (Kafue Celtic), Sekanji Siame (Power Dynamos), Aaron Mbemba Phiri (Kafue Celtic), Emmanuel Lungu (Green Eagles)

MIDFIELDERS

David Simukonda (ZESCO United), Perkins Mumba Mwale (Green Buffaloes), Benson Kapeshi (Atletico Lusaka), Tryson Banda (Kabwe Warriors), Obvious Mwaliteta Jr (CABS United FC), Aaron Simpasa (Power Dynamos)

STRIKERS

Pascal Phiri, Patrick Simwinga (both Red Arrows), Henry Mbuti (Kafue Celtic), Emmanuel Mwanza (NAPSA Stars), Eliya Mwandanji (ZESCO United)