. Lubambo

By SANDRA MWILA –
CHIPOLOPOLO wing wizard, Lubambo Musonda is optimistic that the Zambia Under-23 team will qualify to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Musonda said in an interview from his Armenian base yesterday that Zambia had a strong team capable of going past the group stage at the Africa Under-23 Championship kicking off this weekend in Senegal.
The Gandazsar Kapan midfielder said the players would put in their best in Senegal to ensure Zambia booked a ticket for the Olympics in Brazil.
Musonda, however, said competition would be tough looking at the teams drawn against Zambia in Group A but remained optimistic that the squad would be equal to the challenge.
“I think we have a good team and if we just put in our best we can make an appearance at the Rio Olympics,” Musonda said.
He said Zambia would not underrate their opponents in the competition.
Zambia has been placed in Group A with hosts Senegal, Tunisia and South Africa in the competition that kicks off on November 28.
“The group is tricky and we should not underrate any team that we are going to face. It won’t be easy but we have a team that has potential,” Musonda said.
Musonda is among the four foreign-based players that have been summoned for the Under-23 assignment and will be joining the team in Senegal.
The presence of the enterprising midfielder, who has banged three goals in Armenia and scored recently for Zambia in the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier against Sudan, will be a boost to coach Fighton Simukonda’s squad.