Chipolopolo Boys head coach Moses Sichone says the team will not focus on winning the Africa Cup of Nations but on competing at the continental showpiece. 
Sichone who was speaking to journalists after Tuesday’s training session at UNILUS School Ground said he wants the team to compete and see how well they play all the games. 
“For us, we want the players who are ready to fight for the country and also to know why we are going there. I won’t say that we are going to win the Cup, but I would say we want to compete and see how we play all the games,” he said. 
“Yeah so far so good. We started here two weeks ago and I like the progress and that’s why also you know we’ve tried to to change the training also we know we don’t have much time but so far I would just say yeah we’re seeing positive things from the team and the guys they are receiving whatever that we we are telling them positively.”
“It’s just unfortunate that we won’t have all the foreign based players ,you know, in a good time. We actually wanted to utilize having everyone on board. But yeah, I have to speak to the technical director knowing when everybody will be arriving in Spain. I only know about Kings (Kangwa)  and Lubambo Musonda, so I personally talked to them. They will be released on the 14th. So we are planning to have everyone on board so that at least we do the final preparation,” he added. 
Sichone has asked the fans to support the team as it has a blend of experience and young players. He is also aware that critics will be there as expectations are very high among Zambians. 
“Like I said yesterday, we are trying our level best to prepare the team and not only go there to participate, but to go and compete. And I know the expectations are high from all Zambians. We have a team that includes young players. So these players here and the experienced players also need support. And it won’t do well, of course, we expect there will be critics. So it’s part of football. So I can only say the team needs support as much as every Zambian can show some love to this team,” he said. 
Sichone says he had to have a one on one talk with players who have been dropped to encourage them to keep working hard. 
“It’s always a difficult thing, you know, the emotions also, you know, because every player that we called expected to be a part of the final team. But we cannot keep everyone, so I had to find time to speak to the individuals and also, you know, to encourage the guys. This is not the end of their career, so they just need to continue working hard,” he said. 
On the readiness of the team, Sichone said: “That I don’t say much, that’s why you saw, you know, training we have adjusted a bit and of course on that question I can only say much after our Spain camp.”
The former Chipolopolo defender says the team will take every game seriously as all three opponents have good teams.
“For me, we are taking every opponent so seriously. We know Malians are there, they’ve got a good team, Comoros too, and not to talk about Morocco. So for us, the most important thing is we are preparing the guys mentally and also physically to take all these three games seriously and see the outcome,” he said.
Zambia will have a pre AFCON camp in Spain and could face the  Leopards of DR Congo and the Elephants of Ivory Coast in preparatory matches. 
Zambia is in Group A together with Mali, Comoros and hosts Morocco.
You can not compete with reckless defenders like abena Kabaso Chongo in defence. Put Kalimina and the other lad to try…
Patson Daka is not reliable. Bring in Abel Nyirongo, give the boy a chance to shine.
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Chipolopolo Boys head coach Moses Sichone has named his final 28 member squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Leicester City forward Patson Daka, Saudi Arabia based forward Fashion Sakala, US Lecce winger Lameck Banda and Hapoel Be’er Sheva midfield ace Klings Kangwa lead the squad named for the continental showpiece. 
Sichone has also included youngsters Joseph Liteta of Cagliari Calcio and defender David Hamansenya of CD Leganés. 
FC MUZA midfielder Given Kalusa and Kafue Celtic forward on loan at Sensational ZANACO Eliya Mandanji have also made the cup. 
In form Kingston Mutandwa has not made the cut alongside CD Leganés midfielder Gift Siame. 
The Chipolopolo Boys will today leave for Murcia, Spain, for the final phase of preparations. The Spain camp will run from December 11–17, 2025 before the team jets into Morocco for the tournament. 
Zambia could face the  Leopards of DR Congo and the Elephants of Ivory Coast in preparatory matches while in Spain.
Zambia is in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, West African giants Mali, and Comoros.
FULL  SQUAD
(GOALKEEPERS)
 Lawrence Mulenga, Willard Mwanza (both Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco). 
(DEFENDERS)
Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Kabaso Chongo, Gift Mphande (both Zesco United), Stoppila Sunzu (Changchuan Yatai-China), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain FC-Bahrain), David Hamansenya (FC Leganese-Spain), Mathews Banda (Nkana), Obinno Chisala (Al Mereikh-Sudan),  Benson Sakala (Bohemians-Czech Republic)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian-Scotland), Given Kalusa ( FC MUZA), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari-Italy), Wilson Chisala (ZANACO), Kings Kangwa, Joseph Sabobo Banda (both Maccabi Be’er Sheva-Israel), David Simukonda, Pascal Phiri (all Zesco United),Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha-Saudi Arabia), Lubambo Musonda (Magdeburg-Germany)
(STRIKERS)
Patson Daka (Leicester City-England), Jack Lahne Kalichi (Lustenau-Austria), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan-Israel), Eliya Mandanji (ZANACO)
On paper this team looks good or rather okay even though some inclusion and exclusion are questionable.
i would give an example of Kalichi over Mutandwa. personally i feel Mutandwa should have made the cut over Kalichi based on how he has been performing at club level. Kalichi is a good player/striker but i don’t he’s not what we need at the moment in my opinion. We really need to “rebuild” our national team starting from the ground level, And believe me you Mutandwa is one player we shouldn’t over look cause hes’s an exciting prospect.
We have enough talent for us to tap from. Lets not overlook those that are performing just because the nation has some players who are well known by the masses but yet their performances at both club and country level are below par. At this moment we need proper direction and high level professionalism from all those that are called to the national team. Good luck to everyone and make sure you make the nation proud
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Chipolopolo winger Fashion Sakala says the Chipolopolo Boys are eying qualifying to the knockout stage as their first target at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. 
The Al Fahya forward says the players are ready to fight at the continental showpiece and that preparations have been going very well. 
Sakala believes the Chipolopolo Boys have a very good team that will compete at the AFCON in Morocco. 
“The preparations are going well. I think the team looks good. I can tell that each and every player is ready to fight for the position. So yeah, they are going very well. and I think we are ready to fight,” Sakala said. 
“Yeah, it’s very important. Obviously, I think our preparation started when we had those two friendly games we played against South Africa and Angola. So as we are going to Spain, obviously it’s important because we are getting closer to the Africa Cup. But I think I can tell that even now as we are still here, the team looks very good. The preparations are going so well.”
“For us, we only have one goal. The first target that we have is obviously to get to the next stage. I think the group stage is very important for us and we just want to qualify for the next stage. And that’s the target for now. That’s the language that we have in the team,” he added. 
Zambia is in Group A together with Mali, Comoros and hosts Morocco and Sakala expects tough matches but he feels the team will put up a good fight. 
Sakala feels Chipolopolo have some exciting young unknown talents that are ready to cause upsets and surprises at the tournament. 
“Yeah they are tough games obviously but we know what we can do. We have a very good team a team of young players and we look very confident to be honest i can tell that the game we played against Angola for me that game gave me confidence that we actually have a very good team to fight in the the Africa Cup,” he said. 
“I think the most important thing is to build a very good team that will be ready to compete in the Africa Cup. But these two Fendu games, they’re very important for us. I think this is the time for us to test our team, how ready we are. But I can tell that we are very much ready. The team looks very good.”
“Yeah, I think for me that Africa Cup that we played last time, I think it was more like a wake up call because a lot of players, it was our first time to play in such a big tournament. But I know that now, I think we are very much ready. We know what we expect in the Africa Cup. We know how tough it is, but I think we have a very good team to fight. We have players that are not known and ready to make some surprises,” he added. 
Zambia will open their campaign against Mali and Sakala says they are taking that game very seriously as it will shape their campaign. 
“To be honest I think all the teams are tough but I can tell you that we have a very good team ready to compete. I think we are going to fight against each and every team. For us the first game is very important and that’s when we are going to see if we can proceed in the next stage but I know for sure that the team will fight against Mali in our first game. We’re very much ready for that game,” he said. 
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