Zambia has been handed an injury blow ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations opener against Mali in a Group A clash at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Monday.
Veteran defender Stopilla Sunzu has been ruled out of the clash after falling ill, Chipolopolo coach Moses Sichone has confirmed, adding that he developed abdominal pains on Saturday.
Sunzu is well remembered for scoring the winning penalty kick for Zambia in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, beating Ivory Coast in the finals in Gabon.
Sunzu who plays as a centre-back for Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai, is the only surviving member of that 2012 title winning squad on that team currently in Morocco.
Kennedy Mweene serves as goalkeepers’ coach, while Joseph Musonda is the fitness coach – both were part of the triumphant Zambia 2012 squad.
Zambia are playing at the Africa Cup of Nations for a 19th edition, and will be hoping for a better outing after failing to go past the group stages in 2023 – They finished third in Group F behind Morocco and DR Congo.
They have Morocco in the group once again, are big favourites to not only top their group but win the tournament! But Zambia will fancy their chances against Mali and Comoros.
Leicester striker Patson Daka, is expected to carry the team’s scoring burden alongside Austria-based Jack Kalichi Lahne.
Joseph Liteta (Cagliari), Kings Kangwa (Maccabi Be’er Sheva), and winger Lameck Banda (Lecce) are the other big names to look out for.
Zambia captain Fashion Sakala stated: “We have prepared well for the competition. Our goal is to give everything tactically and mentally. I am very excited about this tournament, and an advantage for me is that I have more experience. We are well-prepared and aim to go far.”
Mali on the other hand, are one of the tournament’s underachievers despite the enormous talent this side has produced – Finishing runners-up in 1972 is what they can show.
Tottenham Midfielder Yves Bissouma is part of Tom Saintfiet’s 28-man squad.
Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Ibrahima Sissoko (VfL Bochum), Gaoussou Diarra (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Nene Dorgeles (Fenerbahçe), Mamadou Doumbia (Watford), Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre), Moussa El Bilal Touré (Beşiktaş) among others make Mali one of the teams to look out for.
