The Chipolopolo boys have regrouped in Lusaka ahead of the 2021 Cosafa Cup that runs from July 6-18 in Port Elizabeth.

Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has handed some players from the under-17 and 20 squads that he hopes can make the cut for the tournament.

Under-17 skipper Miguel Chaiwa and his teammate Joseph Sabobo Banda have been roped while Jimmy ‘Zobrigo’ Mukeya and Prince Mumba are from the under-20 pool.

Cape Town City midfielder Justin Shonga and Gamphani Lungu of SuperSport United are among the foreign based players that have joined camp.

Also in camp is Bradley Mweene who plies his trade in Portugal.
Some more foreign based players are being awaited with the Polokwane City duo of Salulani Phiri and Cyril Chibwe expected to join.

Others being awaited are goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns), Augustine Mulenga (Amazulu) and Roderick Kabwe of Black Leopards.

Defending champions Zambia is in Group B alongside Malawi, Comoros and Madagascar.

Only the top team in each of the three groups and the best-placed runner-up will advance to the semi-finals in what is a change in format for the tournament this year.

That means each side is guaranteed three games up to a maximum of five, which will provide vital preparation for those national teams involved in 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers later this year.

The Cosafa Cup is making a comeback after the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it will be hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay for the first time, which has been a familiar home for other Cosafa competitions in recent years.

Soka25east.com