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Zambia picks 23 players for World Cup qualifier against Sudan

Xinhua, November 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Head coach of the Zambia national soccer team George Lwandamina has named 23 players to face Sudan in a 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier match, the country's soccer governing body said on Tuesday.

The team, which left for Sudan in the early hours of Tuesday, will face Sudan on Wednesday, according to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) on its website.

The Chipolopolo trainer has named nine professionals for the match led by in-form South African-based striker Collins Mbesuma and team captain Rainford Kalaba who plays for Democratic Republic of Congo giants TP Mazembe.

Other professionals include Stopilla Sunzu, Nathan Sinkala, Kabaso Chongo, Lubambo Musonda, Evans Kangwa, Aaron Katebe and first-choice goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.

However, Russian-based midfielder Chisamba Lungu has excused himself from the match while teenager striker Conlyde Luchanga who last month made his senior national soccer team debut against Mozambique has also been included.

The trainer has since expressed optimism that his charges will record a positive result during the match.

The two teams are later expected to clash in the return leg match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola city on the Copperbelt Province on Sunday.

The winner of this tie over two legs will progress to the third round where 20 teams will be divided into five groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The winners of each group will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners have never qualified for the World Cup. Endi