Zambia U23 national football team coach Fighton Simukonda has named a strong starting eleven for the opening match against Tunisia. In the absence of Lubambo Musonda who is only expected to join the squad on Sunday, Simukonda is expected to employ a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation with teenage striker Conlyde Luchanga as the lone striker.

Ronald Kampamba will take up the central attacking midfield role while Patrick Ngoma takes the left midfield position and Spencer Sautu occupying the right wing of midfield.Paul Katema and Jackson Chirwa will provide cover for the back four.

The central defence will be marshalled by Kapota Kayawe and Benson Sakala with Boyd Mkandawire and Benedict Chepeshi deployed as left and right backs respectively.

During Friday’s prematch press conference Simukonda said his team was 99.99% ready for the Tunisian challenge.

“We are here to compete and not as mere participants. It is good that we are not highly rated going into this match. We are
being considered as underdogs and we don’t mind. The teams 99.99 % ready,” Simukonda said.

“We want to collect 3 points; a draw will be a plus but we want to go for a win.” Simukonda added that he expected a physical game because the Tunisians were
heavily built.

“They have players who have height so we expect them to be good on set pieces and in the air. We have prepared for them along
those lines,” he said.

Zambia Starting XI: 16. Toaster Nsabata; 3. Benedict Chepeshi 12. Benson Sakala 13. Kapota Kayawe 4. Boyd Mkandawire; 15. Paul Katema 14. Jackson Chirwa 10. Spencer Sautu 9. Ronald kampamba 2. Patrick Ngoma; 17.Conlyde Luchanga
Substitutes: 1. Kenny Mumba (GK) 5. Solomon Sakala 6. Friday Samu 7. Salulani Phiri 8. John Chingandu 18. Billy Mutale 19. Aubrey Chirwa
20. Taonga Bwembya 21.Tresford Lawrence Mulenga (GK)

Mubanga Aaron

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