The Chipolopolo have settled in Algeria ahead of Friday’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the hosts, with coach George Lwandamina challenging his players to confront Zambia’s difficult history against North African opposition.
The Zambian squad arrived in Algeria on Sunday following a week-long training camp in Lusaka and has based itself near the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium, the venue for Friday’s Group I encounter.
The team held its first training session at Tirsathone Stadium in the Azazga area of Tizi Ouzou on Sunday as preparations moved into their final phase.
Twenty-one of the 27 players called up had reported for national duty by Sunday, with Germany-based striker Patson Daka, Miguel Chaiwa, Joseph Liteta, Ricky Chanda, Mathews Banda and Kingston Mutandwa among those expected to join camp.
Orlando Pirates striker Gampani Lungu was expected to be the final arrival.
Captain Fashion Sakala leads a squad facing one of the toughest assignments of the qualifying campaign against an Algeria side with considerable experience at continental level.
For Lwandamina, however, the fixture represents more than the opening match of the qualification campaign.
The coach has urged his players to challenge the perception that North African teams are automatically superior to Zambia.
“This game on Friday gives you a chance to change, to rewrite history and make the change, they are as human as we are,” Lwandamina told the players.
His message comes against the backdrop of Zambia’s mixed record against Algeria and the broader difficulties southern African sides have often faced when travelling north for competitive fixtures.
The Chipolopolo will need to combine defensive discipline with enough attacking threat to take something from a difficult away assignment.
The match also provides an early test of Lwandamina’s side as Zambia begins another attempt to reach the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Zambia has been drawn in Group I alongside Algeria, Togo and Burundi. The qualification campaign will determine which teams progress to the 2027 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
After Friday’s encounter, Zambia will return home to face Togo on 29 September at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
That makes the opening two matches particularly important in establishing the team’s position in the group.
For now, the focus is firmly on Algeria.
Lwandamina has framed the fixture as an opportunity for his players to change the narrative. The response will come on the pitch in Tizi Ouzou, where Zambia begins its road to AFCON 2027.
