Toaster gets call up for Zambia

There is a single player from South Africa’s Betway Premiership in Zambia’s 55-man provisional squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco next month as new coach Moses Sichone named his choices on Thursday.

---- NIGERIA ONLY ----

The Sekhukhune United goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata is likely to be his country’s No 1 for the tournament, which starts on 21 December. 

Zambia are in Group A alongside Comoros, Mali and defending champions Morocco.

Nsabata kept goal in the friendly against South Africa in Gqeberha earlier this month.

Sichone has drafted defender Jadel Katongo, who is an England junior international and part of the under-21 squad at Manchester City, and Jack Kalichi Lahne, who is a former Swedish junior international but debuted for Zambia in the friendly against South Africa and then scored a few days later in the 3-2 loss to Angola.

The 24-year-old plays in the Austrian second division.

Sichone has also unearthed 23-year-old striker Chanka Zimba from Scottish side Inverness Caledonian Thistle and the 20-year-old Frank Chileshe, who moved from Kafue Celtic to of Locomotive Tbilisi in Georgia two years ago.

Zambia have also included three players from the U17 World Cup where Zambia reached the round of 32 in Qatar this month before begin eliminated by Mali.

They are Christo Chitambala, Jonathan Kalimina and Abel Nyongo.

ZAMBIA SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Mangani Banda (Kabwe Warriors), Christo Chitambala, Charles Kalumba (both Red Arrows), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos), Toaster Nsabata (Sekhukhune United, South Africa)

Defenders: Mathews Banda (Nkana), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Chanda Chileshe (FC Muza), Obinno Chisala (Al Merrikh, Sudan), Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United), David Hamansenya (Leganes, Spain), Jonathan Kalimina (Kafue Celtic), Jadel Katongo (Manchester City, England), Gift Mphande (Zesco United), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain SC, Bahrain), Kapambwe Musonda (Green Eagles), Owen Mwamba (Mufulira Wanderers), Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows), Headson Paina (Green Eagles), Benson Sakala (Bohemians, Czech Republic), Stoppila Sunzu (Changchun Yatai, China)

Midfielders: Joseph Sabobo Banda (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel), Lameck Banda (Lecce, Italy), Humphrey Bwembya (Kabwe Warriors), Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian, Scotland), Frank Chileshe (Locomotive Tbilisi, Georgia), Kelvin Chipelu (Forest Rangers), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Given Kalusa (FC Muza), Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel), Albert Kangwanda (Red Arrows), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari, Italy), Golden Mashata (Hapoel Ra’anana, Israel), Solomon Mpasela (FC Muza), Frederick Mulambia (Power Dynamos), Lubambo Musonda (FC Magdeburg, Germany), Kelvin Mwanza (FC Muza), Pascol Phiri (Zesco United), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Gift Siame (Leganes, Spain), Abraham Siankombo, David Simukonda (both Zesco United), Tinklar Sinkala (Zanaco), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos)

Strikers: Patson Daka (Leicester City, England), Jack Lahne Kalichi (Austria Lustenau, Austria), Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan, Israel), Kingston Mutandwa (SV Reid, Austria), Rickson Ng’ambi (FC Muza), Abel Nyongo (Atletico Lusaka), Andrew Phiri (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania), Chanka Zimba (Inverness Caledonian Thistle-Scotland).