A former Kaizer Chiefs striker has ended a four-year Chipolopolo exile after making Zambia’s provisional team of local call-ups for March’s 2023 AFCON qualifier against Lesotho.
New Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant unveiled his provisional 27-member team on March 9 that goes into camp over the weekend before naming his foreign-based call-ups next week.
Lazarous Kambole last played for Zambia on November 19, 2019, in a 2021 AFCON qualifier against Zimbabwe that Chipolopolo lost 2-1 in Lusaka.
Thereafter, Kambole’s struggles to settle at Chiefs run in parallel with his absence from the Chipolopolo fold.
Lazarous Kambole EARNS NATIONAL TEAM CALL-UP
However, Kambole’s recall is down to the kiss of life he was given by the Zambian club that sold him to Chiefs in June 2019 Zesco United who signed him on a six-month deal in January from Tanzanian side Young Africans.
Kambole scored four goals in his first three games for six overall played for Zesco and is currently on a three-match dry spell.
Meanwhile, there is no place on the local list for ex-Orlando Pirates striker Justin Shonga who has scored six goals in seven months since returning from the PSL to rejoin his former Lusaka club Nkwazi.
But Shonga’s former Pirates teammate Augustine Mulenga who now plays for Napsa Stars is in the team.
South African-born goalkeeper Cyril Chibwe, who plays for Zesco, returns to the team for the first time since winning the 2022 COSAFA Cup in Durban last July.
Zambia will host Lesotho in the first leg of their back-to-back Group H qualifier dates on March 23 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The final leg is scheduled for March 27 in South Africa at Dobsonbville Stadium in Johannesburg.
Zambia is third in Group H tied on 3 points with Comoros and is a point behind leaders Cote d’Ivoire.
Lesotho is fourth with 1 point from two rounds of matches played.
ZAMBIA provisional SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Allan Chibwe, Cyril Chibwe, Charles Kalumba, Lawrence Mulenga
Defenders: Luka Banda, Dominic Chanda, Aaron Katebe, John Chishimba, Mwila Phiri, Benedict Chepeshi, Killian Kanguluma, Shemmy Mayembe, Gift Mphande , Teddy Khumalo.
Midfielders: Oliver Lumbiya, Andrew Mphande, Kelvin Kapumbu, Gideon Sichone, Joshua Mutale, Abraham Siankombo, Augustine Mulenga, Kelvin Kampamba , Charles Zulu.
Strikers: Lazarous Kambole, Derrick Bulaya, Joseph Phiri and Andrew Phiri.
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