The Zambia Under 23 squad returned to training today after taking Sunday off at their Kitwe camp where they are preparing for their February 7, Olympic Games qualifying 1st leg, home leg match against Malawi.
Joining the squad during the break were schoolboy international midfielder Stophira Nsunzu of Afrisports FC and Kondwani Mtonga of promoted Zamtel FC.
Mtonga’s clubmate and ex-Afrisports striker Jackson Mwanza, himself a former Zambia schoolboy international, has also been added to Peter Kaumba’s squad.
Mwanza and Mtonga were called up after impressing Kaumba with Zamtel in this past Saturdays friendly against his side at Arthur Davies that the club won 3-2.
Mtonga and Nsunzu are potential replacements for out of favor Kitwe Uniteds’ defensive midfielder Richard Mooka who failed to impress in the Under 23’s 10-0 demolition of Djibouti in the one-leg preliminary round tie played in Lusaka last October.
18 -year old Nsunzu meanwhile joins his brother and striker Felix of Konkola Blades at teh Under 23’s to form the squads first sibling pair in Kaumba’s team.
26 players in all are in camp as the Under 23 steps up training.
The team this Saturday plays its second training match away in Chingola against Nchanga Rangers at Nchanga stadium.
2007 CAF AFRICA YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS.
GROUP A.
20/01/2007.
Congo-Brazzaville 2(Fabrice Nguessi Ondama 55″ 65″)- Cote d’Ivoire 0.
Gambia 2(Osamn Jallow 63″, Abdoulaye Kenmansally 66″)- Burkina Faso 0.
23/01/2007.
Cote d’Ivoire- Burkina Faso.
Congo-Braz- Gambia.
GROUP B.
21/01/2007.
Nigeria 4(Zenke Terwade 2″ 25″, Echieyile Uwa 5″, Emmanuel Sarki 86″)-Zambia 2(Simon Lupiya 44″, Fwayo Tembo 66″ pen).
Egypt 1(Mustapha Gomaa 62″)-Cameroon 0.
24/01/07.
Cameroon-Zambia.
Egypt-Nigeria.
