Zambia have been shock winners in 2012 and at the moment are in search of a second star within the Africa Cup of Nations finals which can be being held within the Ivory Coast.
Earlier appearances in finals: (17) 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015
Finest efficiency: Winners 2012
Drawn in Group F with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco and Zambia.
Coach: Avram Grant
The previous Chelsea supervisor has been to 2 earlier Cup of Nations finals with Ghana in 2015 and 2017. He was appointed Ghana’s coach just some weeks earlier than the 2015 version and celebrated his sixtieth birthday on the event by taking the aspect to the ultimate, the place they narrowly misplaced on penalties to the Ivory Coast. He stop after Ghana reached the semi-finals in 2017 however has returned to African soccer with Zambia. Grant, now 68, had 4 years as coach of his native Israel’s nationwide workforce earlier than transferring to Chelsea, the place his aspect misplaced on post-match penalties to Manchester United within the 2007 Champions League closing.
Key participant: Patson Daka. Age: 25. Ahead.
It has not been a satisfying season for Daka regardless of Leicester Metropolis main the Championship however after lacking a lot of the marketing campaign, he has damaged again into the line-up and scored 4 league objectives in December. He had additionally netted thrice for Zambia of their World Cup qualifiers towards Congo and Niger and appears to be again to type on the proper time. Daka was a outstanding member of the Zambia aspect that received the African under-20 title in 2017 by which era he had already been signed by Austria Salzburg.
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FIFA world rating Dec. 2023: 84
How they certified: Prime place workforce in Group H, forward of the Ivory Coast, Comoros Islands and Lesotho.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Energy Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Inexperienced Buffaloes), Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United)
Defenders: Dominic Chanda (Energy Dynamos), Benedict Chepeshi (Pink Arrows), Roderick Kabwe (Zakho), Reward Mphande (Hapoel Rishon Lezion), Frankie Musonda (Ayr United), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe), Zephaniah Phiri (Jail Leopards), Stoppilla Sunzu (Jinan Xingzhou)
Midfielders: Emmanuel Banda (HNK Rijeka), Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune United), Miguel Chaiwa (Younger Boys Berne), Clatous Chama (Simba), Edward Chilufya (Hacken), Kings Kangwa (Pink Star Belgrade), Kelvin Kapumbu (Zesco United), Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov), Kelvin Mubanga (Zesco United), Frederick Mulambia (Energy Dynamos), Lubambo Musonda (Silkeborg), Switzerland), Benson Sakala (Mlada Boleslav)
Forwards: Lameck Banda (Lecce), Patson Daka (Leicester Metropolis), Kennedy Musonda (Younger Africans), Trend Sakala (Al Fayha).
