The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has named former Chipolopolo defender and longtime assistant coach Moses Sichone as the new head coach of the senior national team.
Sichone, a stalwart of Zambia’s defensive line during his playing career, steps up from his role as assistant under former boss Avram Grant. He will lead the Chipolopolo into the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and beyond.
Joining Sichone on the technical bench is a star-studded group of Zambian football legends, with Andrew Sinkala serving as assistant coach,the former Bayern Munich and FC Köln midfielder, who has been coaching in Germany at clubs like FC Hennef and TFC Cologne, alongside Perry Mutapa, currently in charge of Green Eagles FC .
The staff is rounded out by Kennedy Mweene as goalkeeper coach, the 2012 AFCON-winning shot-stopper now serving in the same role at South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns; Noel Mwandila as strikers’ coach, tasked with sharpening Zambia’s attacking edge; and Joseph Musonda as fitness coach, another Chipolopolo icon responsible for the team’s physical conditioning.
FAZ General Secretary Machacha Shepande hailed the appointments as a “new chapter” for Zambian football, emphasizing the bench’s blend of youth, dynamism, and international pedigree.
“The Football Association of Zambia is excited to announce the new chapter of the Chipolopolo which sees the youthful and dynamic quartet of Moses Sichone, Andrew Sinkala, Perry Mutapa, and Kennedy Mweene appointed in charge of the Chipolopolo project,” Shepande said in a statement.
He added that FAZ opted for local talent with global exposure due to the tight timeline for coaching appointments. “The combined assemblage of our new technical bench has enough experience from their playing days in top leagues. Collectively, their transitioning to coaching after their playing days has been admirable and has been under our watch over the years.”
The new era begins immediately, with Sichone’s first tests coming in friendly internationals during the November FIFA window: Zambia face South Africa on November 15 and Burundi on November 18. The appointments mark a homegrown approach as Zambia builds toward AFCON 2025 glory on Moroccan soil.
