In the midst of anticipation surrounding the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Zambia's head coach, Avram Grant, finds himself at a crossroads.
A recent meeting with the local press unveiled the tactician's internal deliberations as he grapples with a critical decision: the composition of the squad that will don the Chipolopolos jersey in one of Africa's most prestigious football tournaments.
Grant, the seasoned coach, candidly admitted that the final squad of 27 players remains an enigma, a puzzle he is yet to solve. The players, handpicked during a provisional process, have been immersed in an intense training regimen in Lusaka, the heartbeat of Zambian football.
The culmination of this local camp will herald the revelation of Grant's chosen warriors, the 27 individuals who will embark on a journey first to the soccer-rich landscapes of Saudi Arabia and subsequently to the footballing cauldron of Ivory Coast.
“I'm not sure we'll take 27 players, we'll take up to 27, but I haven't made a decision yet. There's not a big difference between the players we have that play and those that don't play except in a few positions. The games we will have will consist of testing tactics and a few elements. These games are very important to us,” Grant said.
“Saudi Arabia is due to its good facilities. It has to be a place with good weather so that we can train twice a day to put the team at the highest level because we are facing very good teams. We must be at a high level of performance and physical and mental preparation. The camp will be good for us, I don’t care where as long as they have good facilities,” he added.
Once the squad is unveiled, the Chipolopolos will plunge into a rigorous schedule, marked by two international friendlies in Saudi Arabia. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and an as-yet-unnamed opponent will provide the litmus test for Grant's ensemble.