Sichone Unveils Final 28 for ACON As Chipolopolo Head to Spain Camp
Chipolopolo head coach Moses Sichone has named his final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, trimming his initial 55-player provisional list ahead of the tournament that kicks off on December 21 in Morocco.
The team is set to fly out to Murcia, Spain, where they will hold their final phase of preparations from December 11–17. During the camp, Zambia is expected to play high-profile friendly matches to fine-tune the squad before AFCON.
Austria-based striker Jack Kalichi Lahne, who scored on his national team debut during the last FIFA window, has made the cut. Italy-based Joseph Liteta of Cagliari is also included in a squad that blends foreign-based talent with standout performers from the MTN Super League.
Fresh call-ups from the domestic league include Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco), Matthews Banda (Nkana), Given Kalusa (FC MUZA), and Pascal Phiri (Zesco United). Power Dynamos duo Willard Mwanza and Owen Tembo, along with Zanaco’s David Simukonda, headline a group of rising talents earning their first AFCON nods.
Two highly rated teenagers from the FIFA U17 World Cup, Jonathan Kalimina and Abel Nyirongo, have been retained as standby players. FC MUZA midfielder Kelvin Mwanza completes the list of standby options for the Spain camp.
However, Sichone will only assemble his full squad after December 15 due to new FIFA regulations mandating that clubs release players no earlier than that date. The rule—similar to the one applied during the 2022 FIFA World Cup—shortens the release period by seven days for teams preparing for AFCON 2025.
On December 3, FIFA confirmed that all clubs must release players by December 15 for the tournament, which runs until January 18, 2026.
Zambia has been drawn in Group A, alongside hosts Morocco, Mali, and Comoros.
Meanwhile, former Chipolopolo winger Clifford Mulenga has issued his reaction, describing the squad as “a fair team selection, 70/30 for me,” but raising key concerns.
“I don’t support having two goalkeepers from the same team. Imagine both goalkeepers cost Zambia a game,” Mulenga said, suggesting that Charles Kalumba or Toaster Nsabata should have been considered. He added that the defensive line’s age and form would be crucial in determining how far Zambia can go.
Mulenga praised the balance in midfield but argued that Emmanuel Banda and Fredrick Mulambia should have been included, calling the midfield “where our best players currently operate.”
On the striking force, he believes the experienced unit—though recently short on goals—could rise to the occasion. “In tournaments, those stats hardly matter because players have a tendency to go all out wanting to leave a mark,” he said.
He concluded with a rallying call: “After all is said and done, it’s now up to coach Moses Sichone to find his best 11 and uplift the team. The players will have to stick together and believe they can win the tournament. For most of them, it’s now or never.”
