Zambia’s national football team, Chipolopolo, is gearing up for a challenging campaign in the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023, with defender Frankie Musonda expressing confidence in the team’s potential to navigate through the tough Group F.
Musonda, who recently recovered from an ankle injury sustained while playing for his Scottish club, Ayr United, is excited to be back in the squad.
The 26-year-old defender believes that despite the challenging group, Chipolopolo has the necessary qualities to perform well in Africa’s premier football tournament, scheduled to take place between January 13 and February 11.
“I am really excited. I was unfortunate to get injured just before October, and it carried on into November, so I missed out. But I’ve been back for six, seven weeks now, and I feel good and excited to be part of the team and to be in camp,” said Musonda from the team’s training camp in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
With the team currently in Jeddah for their preparation camp, Musonda emphasized the importance of recovery and tactical training ahead of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
Chipolopolo will wrap up their preparations with a friendly match against five-time champions, Cameroon, before heading to Cote d’Ivoire on January 11.
Commenting on the competitiveness of Group F, Musonda acknowledged the strength of all participating teams and highlighted the belief within the Zambian squad that they can secure positive results in each match.
The hard-tackling defender emphasized the need for concentration and excitement as they face tough opponents, including DR Congo in their opening match on January 17 at San Pedro’s Stade Laurent Pokou.
Zambia’s history at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations adds to the anticipation surrounding their campaign.
As champions of the 2012 edition, Chipolopolo’s journey included a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Cote d’Ivoire.
The team’s last victory in the tournament dates back to 2012, and Musonda, along with the entire squad, is determined to make a mark in the upcoming competition, drawing inspiration from past successes and the belief that they have what it takes to shine on the African football stage.
