Zambia Under 23 coach Osward Mutapa will solely bank on his home-based players for the 2023 U23 AFCON first-round qualifier against Sierra Leones after failing to secure the release of his foreign-based call-ups.
The eight overseas players include two players from the diaspora who Mutapa was considering handing Zambia debuts.
They are 18-year-old Manchester City defender Jadel Katongo and Cardiff City attacker Chanka Zimba.
Winger Lameck Banda of Serie A side Lecce will not be making the trip due to club commitments.
But Mutapa has three notable players from Chipolopolo Zambia’s 2022 COSAFA Cup final win in July.
They are strikers Enock Sakala of Zesco United and Napsa Stars’ Jimmy Mukeya, including Power Dynamos midfielder Joshua Mutale.
Meanwhile, Zambia will face Sierra Leone this Saturday in Monrovia, Liberia, in their first-round, first-leg match.
Sierra Leone has no CAF-certified venue to host its international matches. Zambia will host Sierra Leone in the final leg on October 29 in Lusaka.
The winner will, in the next stage, play the winner of Egypt versus the winner of the Botswana-Eswatini fixture.
Meanwhile, Zambia is scheduled to leave for West Africa on Wednesday via Addis Ababa for this weekend’s match.
GOALKEEPERS: Jeban Tembo (Red Arrows), Francis Mwansa (Trident)
DEFENDERS: Emmanuel Chembe, Mathews Chabala (both Nchanga Rangers), Chikondi Njobvu (Green Eagles), John Chishimba (Zesco United), Brian Musema (Jumulo)
MIDFIELDERS: Patrick Gondwe (Nkana), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos), John Kosamu, Golden Mashata (both Green Buffaloes), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Muma Mumba (Kafue Eagles), Christopher Katongo (Kansanshi Dynamos), Luwawa Kasoma (Zesco United)
STRIKERS: Jimmy Mukeya (Napsa Stars), Enock Sakala Jr (Zesco United), Andrew Phiri (MUZA)
