LUSAKA - Zambia have dropped unfit striker Collins Mbesuma and veteran defender Elijah Tana from their final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
LUSAKA - Zambia have dropped unfit striker Collins Mbesuma and veteran defender Elijah Tana from their final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Mbesuma, who plays in Turkey and was formerly top goal scorer for South African side Kaizer Chiefs, played last week in a friendly against Tunisia but was deemed too out of shape for the tournament in Ghana, which starts next Sunday.
This is contrary to earlier reports that he was dropped because of injury. Tana was left out after failing to travel with the to their training camp in Spain last month. Squad: Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (AmaZulu), Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes) Defenders: William Chinyama, Clive Hachilensa (both Zesco United), Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos), Chintu Kampamba (Free State Stars), Francis Kasonde (Power Dynamos), Joseph Musonda, Billy Mwanza (both Golden Arrows), Kennedy Nketani (Zanaco), Midfielders: Ian Bakala (Primeiro Agosto), Isaac Chansa (Helsingborgs), Rainford Kalaba (Zesco), Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico), Clifford Mulenga (Pretoria University), William Njovu (Lusaka Dynamos) Strikers: James Chamanga (Moroka Swallows), Christopher Katongo (Brondby), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Jacob Mulenga (Racing Strasbourg), Felix Nsunzu (Konkola Blades), Dube Phiri (Agosto). - Reuters Squad: Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (AmaZulu), Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes)
Defenders: William Chinyama, Clive Hachilensa (both Zesco United), Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos), Chintu Kampamba (Free State Stars), Francis Kasonde (Power Dynamos), Joseph Musonda, Billy Mwanza (both Golden Arrows), Kennedy Nketani (Zanaco),
Midfielders: Ian Bakala (Primeiro Agosto), Isaac Chansa (Helsingborgs), Rainford Kalaba (Zesco), Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico), Clifford Mulenga (Pretoria University), William Njovu (Lusaka Dynamos)
Strikers: James Chamanga (Moroka Swallows), Christopher Katongo (Brondby), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Jacob Mulenga (Racing Strasbourg), Felix Nsunzu (Konkola Blades), Dube Phiri (Agosto). - Reuters
Zambia drop Mbesuma, Tana
LUSAKA - Zambia have dropped unfit striker Collins Mbesuma and veteran defender Elijah Tana from their final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
LUSAKA - Zambia have dropped unfit striker Collins Mbesuma and veteran defender Elijah Tana from their final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Mbesuma, who plays in Turkey and was formerly top goal scorer for South African side Kaizer Chiefs, played last week in a friendly against Tunisia but was deemed too out of shape for the tournament in Ghana, which starts next Sunday.
This is contrary to earlier reports that he was dropped because of injury. Tana was left out after failing to travel with the to their training camp in Spain last month. Squad: Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (AmaZulu), Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes) Defenders: William Chinyama, Clive Hachilensa (both Zesco United), Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos), Chintu Kampamba (Free State Stars), Francis Kasonde (Power Dynamos), Joseph Musonda, Billy Mwanza (both Golden Arrows), Kennedy Nketani (Zanaco), Midfielders: Ian Bakala (Primeiro Agosto), Isaac Chansa (Helsingborgs), Rainford Kalaba (Zesco), Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico), Clifford Mulenga (Pretoria University), William Njovu (Lusaka Dynamos) Strikers: James Chamanga (Moroka Swallows), Christopher Katongo (Brondby), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Jacob Mulenga (Racing Strasbourg), Felix Nsunzu (Konkola Blades), Dube Phiri (Agosto). - Reuters Squad: Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (AmaZulu), Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes)
Defenders: William Chinyama, Clive Hachilensa (both Zesco United), Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos), Chintu Kampamba (Free State Stars), Francis Kasonde (Power Dynamos), Joseph Musonda, Billy Mwanza (both Golden Arrows), Kennedy Nketani (Zanaco),
Midfielders: Ian Bakala (Primeiro Agosto), Isaac Chansa (Helsingborgs), Rainford Kalaba (Zesco), Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico), Clifford Mulenga (Pretoria University), William Njovu (Lusaka Dynamos)
Strikers: James Chamanga (Moroka Swallows), Christopher Katongo (Brondby), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Jacob Mulenga (Racing Strasbourg), Felix Nsunzu (Konkola Blades), Dube Phiri (Agosto). - Reuters