Mutapa Names U20 Squad

By Hope Chiyamba The Zambia under-20 Men’s national Team coach PERRY MUTAPA has named a 32- member provisional squad for the Total Energies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations and COSAFA qualifiers in Mauritius. The squad includes foreign – based players such as Netherlands- based FANWELL TEMBO of Alphence Racing club and TUMELO MUNUNGA of Spanish Side CD Leganes. South Africa-Based SIPHO MUNTANGA of Randburg FC and former U-17 Star LINEKER MBESUMA of Roan United have also been called up. MUTAPA says the camp will provide an opportunity for the technical bench to assess the players before finalizing the squad for the COSAFA qualifiers. Players for the Under-17 Squad that featured at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar are also expected to join the camp. Zambia is in GROUP C alongside Malawi, Botswana and Comoros. The COSAFA qualifiers will run from the 18th to 27th September, with the top two teams qualifying to the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. The Ghana tournament will also serve as a pathway to the FIFA U-20 World Cup. FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD (GOALKEEPERS) Stacial Kangwa (Chirundu United), Hendrix Kanyungu (Makeni All Stars), Friday Kampamba (Zesco United) (DEFENDERS) Davies Chiwisa, Mathews Makukula (both Relentless Kings Football Academy), Titus Bwalya (Indeni Football Club), Samson Ngoma (Mines United), Joseph Sikandi, Warren Kalenje (both Billy Sports Academy), Maurice Masuku (Red Arrows), (MIDFIELDERS) Philimon Chilimina (Chirundu United), Elvis Mulenga (Red Arrows), Clement Banda (Power Dynamos), Bunonge Bunonge (Lumwana), Moffat Ng’ambi (Trident), Charles Walawala (Modern Skills Soccer Academy), Kayula Chinunda (Mphande Youth Soccer Academy), Paul Mwape (Mutondo Stars), Nuto Banda (Morning Stars), Wise Kabanji (Zanaco), Evaristo Himoonga (Chirundu United), Paul Halwindi (Ndola United), Marvelous Chishimba (Gomes Academy), Allan Mumba (Zesco United), Tumelo Mununga (CD Leganes-Spain), Dennis Mwendabai (Lusaka Youth Soccer Academy), Lineker Mbesuma (Roan United) (STRIKERS) Sipho Muntanga (Randburg FC-SA), Fanwell Tembo (Alphence Racing Club-Holland), Gibson Mooya (Power Dynamos), Billy Daka (Nkwazi), John Foloko (Mufulira Wanderers) NOTE: This camp is an assessment camp with some players from the U17 FIFA World Cup pool expected to join in the next camp