Lwandamina races to shape Zambia’s AFCON squad in local camp

Zambia interim coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina has brought 28 locally based players into camp as he begins shaping the Chipolopolo squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The team will face Algeria away on 25 September before hosting Togo in Ndola four days later.

The camp at Nkoloma Stadium is an early step towards those Group I fixtures, but Lwandamina knows his strongest squad will not be available for long. Zambia’s foreign-based players are expected to join only when the FIFA international window opens on 21 September, leaving the coach just a few days to work with the full group before the trip to Algeria.

Lwandamina is therefore using the local camp to assess more than the players’ fitness. The technical team wants to identify members of the domestic group who can adjust quickly when the overseas-based contingent arrives and who could remain in contention for the final squad.

The 28-man group contains players who took part in the Mukuru Four Nations tournament in Botswana and others involved in Zambia’s recent friendly against Argentina. The coaching staff is also tracking the form of Zambian players competing abroad before the final selection is made.

Competition between the domestic and foreign-based players is viewed by Lwandamina as a positive for the national side. He believes the contest for places can strengthen the squad, with players from both groups competing for roles when the team is assembled.

The former ZESCO United coach’s immediate challenge is to make the local preparations count before the international window opens. Zambia’s first AFCON qualifying assignment is in Algeria, followed by the home meeting with Togo, and the short turnaround means the initial camp will be important in deciding who is ready for the final squad.