Zambia coach Avram Grant has named a 27-member provisional squad as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations Group H qualifiers against COSAFA rivals Lesotho.

Zambia hosts Lesotho on Thursday, March 23 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola in an 18:00 hours kickoff, before facing the Likuena at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg three days later in the reverse fixture.

The local assemblage will commence preparations after this weekend’s Absa Cup quarterfinal matches. Foreign based players will join camp starting on March 19 in Ndola given the FIFA five-day rule.

Grant will announce the final squad comprising foreign based players after the local camp.

The Chipolopolo gaffer combed through the local league and academies for local possible inclusions before tracking foreign based players in their bases.

Zambia has three points after having lost 3-1 to Ivory Coast on match day one in Yamoussoukro and beating Comoros 2-1 at National Heroes Stadium.

Ivory Coast tops the group on four points while Zambia and Comoros are both on three points with Lesotho managing a point. Hosts Ivory Coast have already qualified with the remaining three sides battling for the remaining slot from Group H.

LOCAL PROVISIONAL SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Mwenya Chibwe (Zesco United), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Allan Chibwe (Forest Rangers), Charles Kalunga (Red Arrows)

DEFENDERS: Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Dominic Chanda, Killian Kanguluma (both Kabwe Warriors), Shemmy Mayembe, John Chishimba (Zesco United), Mwila Phiri (Zanaco), Teddy Khumalo, Gift Mphande (both Athletico Lusaka), Luka Banda (Napsa Stars), Aaron Katebe (Power Dynamos)

MIDFIELDERS: Kelvin Kapumbu, Kelvin Kampamba (both Zesco United), Gideon Sichone (Green Buffaloes), Andrew Mphande (Nkwazi), Oliver Lumbiya (Nkana), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos). Charles Zulu, Abraham Siankombo (both Zanaco), Augustine Mulenga (Napsa Stars).

STRIKERS: Andrew Phiri (MUZA), Joseph Phiri (Red Arrows), Derrick Bulaya (Green Eagles FC), Lazarous Kambole (Zesco)