The Chipolopolo pre-AFCON camp has hit high gear with the team hard at work in Taif.

Since setting foot in Saudi Arabia where they have been holed up for 48 hours now, the squad has morphed into their environs with all the 27 players already in camp.

With the resort city of Taif lying about 92 kilometers from the iconic Mecca, there is a sense that there could be no better place to nurture the team’s AFCON dream than Saudi Arabia.

The Chipolopolo held their morning training session at the King Fahd Sports City Complex.

Zambia will play an international friendly match with Cameroon on January 9 in Jeddah before jetting out to Ivory Coast for the tournament which kicks off on January 13.

The Chipolopolo play their opening match on January 17 against Congo DR before facing Tanzania four days later.

Zambia will conclude its Group F matches on January 24 against the Atlas Lions of Morocco.