Fashion Sakala Confident as Chipolopolo Enter Final Pre-AFCON Camp in Spain
Chipolopolo forward Fashion Sakala says Zambia is heading into the final phase of the pre-AFCON preparations with confidence and unity, as the team departs for Spain for an intensive international training camp.
Speaking to FAZ Media, Sakala said he is impressed with the team’s form and mentality, noting that every player has shown hunger and commitment ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
“The preparations are going well. The team looks good and I can tell that each and every player is ready to fight,” he said.
Sakala highlighted that Zambia’s build-up had effectively begun with the friendly matches against South Africa and Angola, fixtures he believes laid a strong foundation for the final stretch.
“As we go to Spain, it’s important because we are getting closer to the Africa Cup. Even now, the team looks very good and preparations are going so well,” he added.
The Al Fayha forward stressed that Zambia’s immediate objective remains simple and non-negotiable — progressing past the group stage.
“For us, we only have one goal. The first target is to get to the next stage. The group stage is very important for us and that’s the language we have in the team,” he said.
Sakala acknowledged the difficulty of the group but maintained strong belief in the squad’s ability.
“They are tough games, obviously, but we know what we can do. We have a very good team with young players, and we look confident. The game we played against Angola gave me confidence that we actually have a team to fight at the Africa Cup.”
Zambia is expected to play two international friendlies in Spain, fixtures Sakala says will play a crucial role in shaping the final AFCON squad.
“These friendly games are very important for us. This is the time to test the team and see how ready we are. But I can tell you, we are very much ready. The team looks very good,” he assured.
Reflecting on Zambia’s previous AFCON appearance, where the team exited in the group stage, Sakala said the experience has made the squad more mature and better prepared.
“That Africa Cup we played last time was a wake-up call. A lot of players were playing in such a big tournament for the first time. Now we know what to expect. We know how tough it is, but this time we have players ready to make surprises.”
Sakala emphasized that Zambia will treat every match as a battle, with special focus on the opener against Mali.
“All teams are tough, but we have a very good team ready to compete. The first game is very important. That’s when we will see if we can proceed to the next stage. I know for sure that we will fight against Mali, we are very much ready for that game.”
Zambia will use the Spain camp as the final building block before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, where the team hopes to make a strong statement.
