Nsabata ends Chipolopolo exile

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Nov 06, 2021. 11:00

Goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata has been recalled to the Chipolopolo Zambia fold after a two year hiatus for this month’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B qualifiers against Mauritania and Tunisia.

Nsabata is back for the first time since November, 2019 during a 2021 AFCON qualifier against Zimbabwe that Zambia lost 2-1 at home in Lusaka.

The goalkeeper has been in great form at South African PSL club Sekhukhune United where he enjoyed a clean-sheet for 270 minutes until Tuesdays 2-1 away loss to Orlando Pirates.

Nsabata joined Sekhukhune this season following a brief stint at Zesco United.

Meanwhile, Nkana striker Alex Ngonga has again failed to make the final cut after earlier opting out of his first call-up under Beston Chambeshi in August.

Nkwazi goalkeeper Charles Muntanga who last featured for Zambia in November 2020 has also been dropped after also making the initial list of home-based call-ups a week ago.

But Chambeshi has made a surprise call-up for Zambia Under-17 captain and defender Miguel Chaiwa of third tier side Shamuel Academy FC.

Overall, Chambeshi has stuck to his tried and test team led by Leicester City striker Patson Daka, Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu and Glasgow Rangers forward Fashion Sakala.

Zambia will host Mauritania on November 13 in Lusaka and three days later travel North Africa to visitTunisia.

Meanwhile, both matches are dead-rubber dates after Zambia fell-out of the Group B race with two games to spare.

Zambia sits third on 4 points, three behind Equatorial Guinea while Tunisia leads Group B on 10 points.

Mauritania are bottom of Group B on 1 point.

GOALKEEPERS: Gregory Sanjase (Zesco United), Kelvin Malunga (Nkana), Toaster Nsabata (Sekhukhune United, South Africa), Cyril Chibwe (Baroka FC, South Africa)

DEFENDERS: Benedict Chepeshi, Prosper Chiluya (both Red Arrows), Solomon Sakala, Simon Silwimba (both Zesco United), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Miguel Chaiwa (Shamuel), Jack Ngulube (Green Buffaloes), Isaac Shamujompa (Zanaco), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe, DR Congo)

MIDFIELDERS: Dickson Chapa, Spencer Sautu, Kelvin Kampamba (all Zesco United), Kelvin Kapumbu (Zanaco), Edward Chilufya, Emmanuel Banda (both Djurgardens, Sweden), Lubambo Musonda (Horsens, Denmark), Clatous Chama (RS Berkane,Morocco), Enock Mwepu (Brighton, England), Rally Bwalya (Simba SC, Tanzania)

STRIKERS: Fashion Sakala (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Patson Daka (Leicester City, England), Moses Phiri (Zanaco), Evans Kangwa (Arsenal Tula, Russia)