Zambia interim coach George Lwandamina has told locally-based players they must work extra hard to break into his AFCON 2027 qualifier squad, with the Chipolopolo opening their Group I campaign away to Algeria on 25 September before hosting Togo four days later in Ndola.
Lwandamina spoke after Friday's training session at Nkoloma Stadium, where a 28-man local camp has reported for initial preparations ahead of the FIFA window that opens on 21 September.
The camp combines players who featured at the Mukuru Four Nations tournament in Botswana and remnants of the squad that faced Argentina in the recent international friendly.
"Basically, this is our initial camping," Lwandamina said. "We have gotten players who went to Botswana, and those who went to Argentina. This is the group that we have."
He made it clear that foreign-based stars will form the bulk of the final squad, but insists the door is not shut on locals willing to push their case.
"Foreign based players can only come few days before the games," he said. "So, we have to play and train with the locals, hoping one or two or three will make it to the final one."
Lwandamina confirmed his technical bench is closely monitoring Zambian players plying their trade abroad and will finalise the travelling party once the diaspora players link up.
"If there is that competition in the team, then you have a team," he added. "The locals have to work extra harder, chances are there for them."
What did Lwandamina say about the local players?
Lwandamina said the local camp gives fringe players a genuine opportunity to push into the final squad, even though most of the AFCON 2027 qualifier group will come from abroad.
He noted the foreign-based professionals can only join days before the games, so the Zambia technical bench is using these sessions to assess who can handle the pressure when called upon.
The question doing the rounds in Lusaka is whether any of these locals can truly break into a side stacked with European-based regulars, or whether this camp is merely a holding exercise until the diaspora contingent touches down.
Zambia AFCON 2027 Group I fixtures
- 25 September: Zambia vs Algeria (away)
- 29 September: Zambia vs Togo (home, Ndola)
Lwandamina will name his final squad once the foreign-based players confirm availability.
Source: Africa Top Sports
