Unveiling the list to fazfootball.com, FAZ spokesperson Erick Mwanza said the match was important in setting the tone for the African champions before the provisional squad for Zambia’s title defence is announced.
“As we have demonstrated over the last five years, FIFA International Calendar dates are an integral part of providing the Chipolopolo an opportunity to get together and work together. In playing these matches, we continue our wonderful development path which is aimed at sustaining and enhancing our high levels of competitiveness,” Mwanza said adding: “Herve Renard is taking this match with the seriousness it deserves and while we are going into to win it, the main thrust is for the players to enjoy the time together and keep the African winning championship spirit going. We are looking forward to the match which is the venue of the opening and closing ceremonies and without taking anything for granted, it’s a venue we would like to return to on 10th February next year.”
In a squad which has seen the return of Orlando Pirates robust striker Collins Mbesuma, who was dropped after AFCON 2012, there were no major surprise inclusions or exclusions as The Fox retrained the greater majority of the squad which won the Nations Cup last February. Since calling the duo for the final Nations Cup qualifier against Uganda early this month, Renard has maintained midfield teenagers Mukuka Mulenga and Shadreck Malambo.
Top striker Jacob Mulenga, a leading goal scorer in the Dutch Eredivise, is included and fans who have not seen him a Chipolopolo shirt for a year now will hope the highly rated sharp-shooter will make his long awaited return to action when Chipolopolo take on a Bafana Bafana side which has not been to the last two Nations Cup finals and makes a return only in 2013 as hosts.
The full squad:
Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, RSA), Danny Munyau (Red Arrows), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos), Emmanuel Mbola (FC Porto, Portugal), Joseph Musonda (Golden Arrows, RSA), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United, RSA), Chintu Kampamba (Unattached), Stoppila Sunzu (TP Mazembe, DRC), Hichani Himoonde (TP Mazembe, DRC), Nathan Sinkala (TP Mazembe, DRC), William Njobvu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel), Noah Chivuta (Free State Stars, RSA), Isaac Chansa (Henan Jienye, China), Mukuka Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe, DRC), Chisamba Lungu (FC Urals, Russia), Shadreck Malambo (Zanaco), Felix Katongo (Primero de Agosto, Angola), Jonas Sakuwaha (El Merreikh, Sudan), James Chamanga (Dalian Shide, China), Collins Mbesuma (Orlando Pirates, RSA), Chris Katongo (Henan Jienye, China), Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton, England), Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht, Holland)
