Lawrence Mulenga set to take the lead over Francis Mwansa and Toaster Nsabata.

Lawrence Mulenga set to take the lead over Francis Mwansa and Toaster Nsabata.

In a little over 45 hours, the Chipolopolo will commence their journey in the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Scheduled for Wednesday evening, Zambia’s match will unfold at the Laurent Pokou Stadium, kicking off at 22:00 hours (Zambian Time).

Coach Avram Grant aims to deploy his strongest lineup, seeking a positive start to the tournament.

Power Dynamos’ goalkeeper, Lawrence Mulenga, is anticipated to assume the goalkeeper position over Toaster Nsabata and Francis Mwansa.

Mulenga, having started in goal during the friendly against Cameroon and the 2-1 loss to Niger, appears to have solidified his role as the preferred choice for the 2012 AFCON winners.

Another goalkeeper option for Grant is Green Buffaloes’ Francis Mwansa. Despite initial controversy over his selection, Mwansa made a significant impact in the 2023 COSAFA Championship semifinal against South Africa, showcasing composure in Zambia’s 2-1 victory and contributing to their record seventh title with a clean sheet in the final against Lesotho.

Toaster Nsabata, the third option, was initially favored by Grant when he took charge as Chipolopolo boss. However, a 33rd-minute blunder in that match allowed Likuena to take the lead, leading to Nsabata being comforted by teammates Patson Daka and Emmanuel Banda. Despite the setback, Nsabata has delivered commendable performances for Chipolopolo and was, at one point, the preferred choice in goal.

Chipolopolo is set to face Tanzania in their second game on Sunday, with their final group match against the Atlas Lions scheduled for January 24.