Zambia have named their squad for the 2020 COSAFA Men’s Under-17 Championship that starts in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday, including some familiar names from last year’s triumph in Malawi.
It includes last season’s joint top-scorer Rickson Ng’ambi, whose five goals went a long way to the side being crowned champions.
Charles Mumba and Julius Kumwenda are others who shone in Malawi 12 months ago and they will hope to fire the side to victory again, or at the very least a place at the Africa Under-17 Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The two finalists in this year’s COSAFA Men’s Under-17 Championship will earn their place at the continental showpiece.
Coach George Chilufya says the build-up to the finals has been good for his side, who have been drawn in Group B.
They open their campaign against the Comoros Islands on Friday, before a crunch meeting with Malawi two days later. They finish their pool play against Botswana on Nov. 25.
The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals.
Zambia romped to the trophy last year, recording wins over Eswatini (6-0), South Africa (7-0) and Malawi (3-2) in the pool stages, followed by a 2-0 victory over Angola in the semifinals, and a win by the same scoreline in the final against Mozambique.
Final Zambia squad:
Goalkeepers: Charles Njobvu, Eric Musonda Makungu
Defenders: Lombe Mutale, Teddy Khumalo, Miguel Chaiwa, Onesimus Chipango, Ricky Chanda, Sekanji Siame
Midfielders: Dominic Kanda, Frank Chileshe, Benjamin Chisala, Richard Ngoma, Joseph Banda, Aaron Phiri, Charles Mumba, Mwango Musonda, Julius Kumwenda, Brian Mate
Forwards: Rickson Ng’ambi, Thomas Chola Mwambazi
