Chipolopolo unveil final 28-man squad for 2025 AfCON

Chipolopolo coach, Moses Sichone, has unveiled his final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, trimming his initial provisional list from 55 players.

The selected team is set to travel to Murcia, Spain, for the final stage of preparations, with the foreign-based and local stars assembling for a training camp scheduled from December 11 to 17.

Austria-based striker Jack Kalichi Lahne, who scored on his debut during the last FIFA international window, has been included in the final squad.

Italy-based midfielder Joseph Liteta of Cagliari has also made the cut.

Read more: Chipolopolo coach, Sichone, expresses frustration over late arrival of foreign-based players ahead of AFCON

Sichone has handed fresh opportunities to several in-form local league players, among them Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco), Matthews Banda (Nkana), Given Kalusa (FC MUZA) and Pascal Phiri (Zesco United).

Rising talents such as goalkeeper Willard Mwanza, Owen Tembo (both of Power Dynamos) and David Simukonda of Zesco United also feature.

Two standout players from the FIFA U17 World Cup, Jonathan Kalimina and Abel Nyirongo, have been named as standby options, joined by FC MUZA’s Kelvin Mwanza for the Spain camp.

While in Spain, the Chipolopolo are expected to engage in a series of high-profile friendly matches as part of their final tune-up for the continental showpiece.

However, Sichone will only have access to his full complement of foreign-based players after December 15, in line with FIFA’s mandatory release date for AFCON-bound footballers.

The directive, confirmed on December 3, demands all clubs release players not later than that date for a tournament running from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

The regulation mirrors the player-release framework used during the 2022 FIFA World Cup and reduces the release window by seven days.

Zambia has been drawn in Group A, alongside hosts Morocco, Mali, and Comoros.

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