The Zambia interim coach says the door is open for locally based players to force their way into the final AFCON qualifying squad.
Chipolopolo interim coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina has challenged Zambia’s locally based players to raise their performance levels and fight for places in the squad ahead of next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Lwandamina was speaking after Friday’s training session at Nkoloma Stadium, where a 28-member local squad is currently undergoing assessment as preparations begin for Zambia’s Group I qualifying campaign.
The coach acknowledged that the final squad is expected to contain a significant number of foreign-based players, but insisted that outstanding performances from the local contingent could earn them a place.
Lwandamina Opens Door for Locals
The current camp brings together players who featured in the Mukuru Four Nations tournament in Botswana and members of the squad that travelled to Argentina for an international friendly earlier this year.
Lwandamina described the camp as the starting point of Zambia’s preparations and urged every player to treat it as an opportunity to impress the technical bench.
“Basically, this is our initial camp. We have players who went to Botswana and those who went to Argentina. This is the group that we have,” Lwandamina said.
“We don’t know which players will come from abroad, so we have to start with these. This is the opportunity they have.”
Foreign-Based Players to Join Later
The coach explained that Zambia’s overseas-based players will only be available during the FIFA international window shortly before the qualifiers.
That has made the current local camp particularly important as Lwandamina looks to assess his options before the final squad is assembled.
“As you may be aware, foreign-based players can only come a few days before the games. So, we have to play and train with the locals, hoping one, two or three can make it into the final squad,” he said.
Lwandamina added that his technical team is closely monitoring Zambians playing abroad and will select those who are performing well for their respective clubs.
“We are following what is happening and we have been following what they have been doing. You will see the squad that will be announced.”
Competition for Places Welcomed
The interim coach believes strong competition between locally and foreign-based players can only benefit the national team.
“They are all Zambians, and it is good for the country. If there is competition in the team, then you have a team. If players can fight, then you have a team,” he said.
However, Lwandamina warned local players that they will need to work harder if they are to compete with those playing overseas.
“The locals have to work extra hard. The chances are there for them, but those playing in the diaspora are active, and that is where most of the team will come from.”
Zambia Face Algeria and Togo
Zambia have been drawn in Group I of the AFCON qualifiers alongside Algeria, Togo and Burundi.
The Chipolopolo will begin their campaign away to Algeria on September 25, before returning home four days later to face Togo in Ndola.
With foreign-based players expected to join during the FIFA window from September 21, Lwandamina will use the ongoing local camp to identify players capable of forcing their way into the final squad.
For the locally based players, the message is straightforward: perform now or risk missing out when the final squad is selected.
