Chipolopolo Squad Declared Fit and Ready for AFCON Opener
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Communications Manager, Sydney Mungala, has confirmed that the Chipolopolo boys are in peak physical condition, dispelling any injury concerns ahead of their highly anticipated opening Group F encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
In an exclusive interview with ZANIS Sports, Mr. Mungala expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for the clash, emphasizing that the players have successfully undergone pre-match formalities, including comprehensive medical evaluations.
“For now, everything is okay, and the team is medically fit, so we are hoping we can have a good opening match on Wednesday against Congo DR,” Mr. Mungala stated.
The FAZ Communications Manager highlighted that the technical team is optimistic about the squad’s preparedness for the Wednesday fixture. The team is currently accommodated at the Site CAN, the tournament village shared with Congo DR and Tanzania, while Morocco has opted for a separate facility at their own expense.
Mr. Mungala underscored the team’s determination to leave a mark at this tournament, marking their return after missing out on the last three editions.
He pointed out the squad’s previous successes at various continental tournaments, including winning the AFCON at the Under-20 level in 2017 and participating in the Under-23 AFCON in 2019.
Having experienced the state-of-the-art training facility at the Lycee Moderne Lucien Yebarth in San Pedro, Mr. Mungala revealed that the players were thoroughly enjoying their training sessions. “The training facility is in perfect condition, and the players were actually enjoying their training during that session,” he affirmed.
Urging fans to rally behind the team, Mr. Mungala acknowledged the significance of the AFCON main event, a competition that has eluded the Chipolopolo in recent years. “We believe that all the efforts that we have done to help prepare the team point to giving the team the best possible preparatory mode,” he concluded.
Under the guidance of coach Avram Grant, the Chipolopolo side is set to face DR Congo on Wednesday at the Laurent Pokou Stadium at 22 hours Zambian time, kicking off their Group F campaign.
The second game awaits against Tanzania four days later, with the final group match scheduled against Morocco on January 24. Excitement and anticipation are building as Zambia aims for a triumphant return to the AFCON stage.
Source: ZANIS
