Orlando Pirates FC star Gamphani Lungu is the only South Africa-based player named in the Zambia national football team squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) group-stage qualifying matches.
The Buccaneers’ player of the month for September was named in the 27-member squad that the Chipolopolo interim coach George Lwandamina released on Monday ahead of the away group I tie against Algeria on 25 September and versus Togo four days later at home.
Who else is in group I?
The group also comprises Burundi, who will face the Zambians at a later stage of the qualifying matches in the race for a place at the 2027 Afcon finals, which Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will co-host from 19 June to 17 July.
Other notable players in the final party are Germany- and Saudi Arabia-based strikers Patson Daka and Fashion Sakala, with Greece-based midfielder Kings Kangwa as the biggest exclusion.
Zambia national football team coach George Lwandamina has unveiled a final 27-member squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches with Patson Daka and Fashion Sakala as the notable inclusions. The opener is against Algeria on September 25. pic.twitter.com/hdJSyYKqgT
— Peter Kanjere (@KanjerePeter) September 14, 2026
Daka and Sakala will lead the attack that also comprises Kingstone Mutandwa of Servette FC in Switzerland, Scotland-based midfielder Miguel Chaiwa of Hibernian FC and Joseph Liteta of Italian club Cagliari FC.
The opening group-stage qualifiers will feature 12 groups, with matches scheduled between 24 September and 6 October 2026.
The Copper Bullets have been a pale shadow of themselves, with their form declining gradually since 2012, when they won the Afcon title.