) As African nations prepare for the 2021 Championship of African Nations (CHAN), Milutin Micho Sredojevic, Head Coach of the Zambian men’s football national team, says the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has invited 40 players to camp.
Sredojevic told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone on Friday from Lusaka, Zambia that the list would be eventually pruned to 23 for the competition to be hosted by Cameroon in January 2021.
The 11-year-old championship is meant for players in the domestic leagues of African countries.
“The players will commence camping on Sept. 28 and after one week, they will be reduced to 23 players. Thereafter, the team will play international friendlies against Malawi, Kenya and South Africa in October.
“We are also planning two other international friendlies against Rwanda and Libya,’’ he said.
The Serbia-born tactician said the friendly matches would assist the team to ascertain their level of preparedness for the competition.
He said the Zambian Premier League scheduled to start in October would assist the players to sharpen their skills and be in good form.
Sredojevic said the national team would play Botswana in AFCON qualifier at home and away in November.
“After Christmas, we shall come out with a comprehensive programme to prepare for the CHAN tournament. From there, we will know the players that will represent Zambia in Cameroon 2021,’’ he said.
Morocco is the defending champion of the CAF African Nations Championship.