Zambia have been invited to take part in the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup (Cecafa Cup) which starts in Kampala, Uganda, on December 31 2008.

Zambia have been invited to take part in the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup (Cecafa Cup) which starts in Kampala, Uganda, on December 31 2008.

The Chipolopolo were handed the invite as guests to replace Eritrea who have withdrawn from the two-week tournament.

"We believe that Zambia is a strong side that will make the Cecafa tournament more challenging. They have accepted our invitation and we expect a great tournament," Cecafa secretary general Nicholas Musonye told BBC Sport.

Zambia, who have been drawn in Group B to play Sudan, Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti, have started camping for the tournament. Hosts Uganda take on Rwanda, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Somalia in Group A. The Chipolopolo are not newcomers to the Cecafa Cup tournament. Twice winners in 1984 and 1991, they quit the Cecafa Cup when the southern African region launched the Cosafa Cup in 1997. - BBC