Reigning champions name Cup squad

Veteran defender Chintu Kampamba was left out of Zambia’s 23-man squad on Wednesday for their Africa Nations Cup defence.

The decision not to include Kampamba, who has been without a club since June, means Zambia have retained 19 of the 23 players who helped them win the continental championship in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon last January.

Zambia won their first Africa Cup of Nations trophy after a dramatic penalty shootout against favourites the Ivory Coast. The match was decided by sudden death as Zambia ran out 8-7 winners.

Herve Renard’s team were playing for more than just their first title but also in the memory of 18 players killed in a plane crash in 1993.

The win could not have been more poignant with the final taking place in Libreville, Gabon near where the fatal crash occurred.

Renard took the reigns in 2011 and will be in charge for this year’s competition. 

The holders continued their preparations with a goalless draw against Morocco in Johannesburg on Tuesday and play Norway in Ndola on Saturday and Namibia in Nelspruit next week in their last two warm-up matches.

They open the defence of their title with a Group C match against Ethiopia in Nelspruit on January 21.

Squad

Goalkeeper: Daniel Munyau (Red Arrows), Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos)

Defenders: Hichani Himoonde, Francis Kasonde (both TP Mazembe Englebert), Emmanuel Mbola (FC Porto), Joseph Musonda (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United), Stopilla Sunzu (TP Mazembe Englebert)

Midfielders: Isaac Chansa (Henan Jienye), Noah Chivuta (Free State Stars), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe Englebert), Christopher Katongo (Henan Jienye), Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico), Chisamba Lungu (Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast), Mukuka Mulenga (Power Dynamos), William Njobvu (Hapoel Beer Sheva), Nathan Sinkala (TP Mazembe Englebert)

Forwards: James Chamanga (Dalian Shide), Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton) Collins Mbesuma (Orlando Pirates), Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht), Jonas Sakuwaha (Al Merreikh).