While the Zambia national team bowed out of the AFCON at the first hurdle, there were a few bright spots in the otherwise troubled outing especially with a number of debutants in the squad.

Some were walking into the Chipolopolo set up with barely no previous big game experience.

Here are a few picks from the FAZ Media in the aftermath of the 3-0 loss to Morocco.

1. Eliya Mandanji: Made his Chipolopolo debut during the two-game international friendly matches against South Africa and Angola preceding the AFCON. His call up was on the back of his form with his club Zanaco. While making an instant impact in the final game against Morocco would have been a huge ask his getting a slice of the action may signal an opportunity for him to craft a new chapter in his Chipolopolo career. At only 18-years old there is no doubting that his was just the first step in a promising national team career.

2. Wilson Chisala: May have made the headlines for his ill-advised jibe against Morocco whom he labelled overrated in the pre-match interview but his inclusion in the squad was not by accident. He was part of the few bright spots at the unimpressive 2025 CHAN outing and continued to be part of the Chipolopolo in the aftermath of that assignment. His stock continued to rise earning him the captaincy at his club Zanaco where he is a key member of the midfield. Maybe soon he will be able to match his verbosity with action!

3. Kabaso Chongo: One of the players that have been around the Chipolopolo set up from the post 2012 success but never got to play at an AFCON. He has previously served as Chipolopolo skipper in 2019-2020 before being dropped by then coach Milutin Sredojevic. Kabaso reinvented himself on his return to the Zambian Super League where he starred for Kabwe Warriors before being snapped by Zesco United on the back of impressive performances. He was an integral part of the qualification campaign where he formed a partnership with Stoppilla Sunzu and Frankie Musonda (Frankie got injured along the way). At 33 years, the AFCON may have represented a long pending date with the AFCON destiny. What happens after this is not within our hands to say.

4. Dominic Chanda: ‘Pillar’ got his AFCON debut in the match against Mali and played in all three matches building from his CHAN journey where he even managed a goal. With Stoppilla Sunzu ruled out due to illness the options for Zambia were either Frankie Musonda or Kabaso but ‘Pillar got the nod and updated his growing prowess that has seen him being a key member of Power Dynamos’ title winning side. At 29 years, he could still have some mileage in his legs to update his blooming international career.

5. Given Kalusa: ‘Little Man Big Dreams’! Kalusa was one of the standout performers in the Zambia versus Morocco game with his diminutive stature not proving an impediment. He also came to light in two-game international friendly matches preceding the AFCON. At only 17 years old, he definitely is just beginning his national team odyssey.

6. Willard Mwanza: Arguably the best performer for Zambia at the tournament despite conceding four goals in three games. ‘Mr Clean Sheet’ may not have exactly lived up to that billing but provided some measure of stability in the Zambian set up. At 28 years, there is still a lot of life in his gloves especially that goalkeepers traditionally get better with age. Perhaps learning the ropes from the 2012 AFCON winning shot stopper Kennedy Mweene has awakened the giant in Willard.

7. David Hamansenya: The 18-year-old Leganese defender got a chance to start in the high stakes game against Morocco after a shakeup of the Zambian set up and did not disappoint. However, he should be the first one to admit that he was made to double his act and evidently earned the respect of Africa’s best player at the moment Achraf Hakimi who charitably gifted him his shirt after the match. Having only made his debut in the final three minutes of an international friendly with South Africa, Hamansenya cannot be too disappointed with the steps made into the Chipolopolo set up and could be looking to build on the AFCON disappointment.

8. Joseph Liteta: The Cagliari man got a chance against Morocco and lasted 45 minutes. Whether or not he lived up to the pre-tournament hype is another story, but Liteta is definitely one of the starlets to occupy a key role in the post AFCON season.

9. Joseph Sabobo Banda: The under-20 star added to the U20 AFCON sojourn in 2025 with a senior team AFCON. Although he made substitute appearances only, he did show enough flashes of what he could do once given a chance. He played a key role in the AFCON qualification campaign at a time most of the regular starters were either injured or unavailable.

10. Mathews Banda: Dove straight into the starting XI from the first game and never left. His trademark long throws were part of the group stage tournament legacy. But his pinpoint cross in the opening game against Mali which resulted in a Patson Daka late equaliser will linger on his memory for a long time. There can be no doubting his assured presence in the post AFCON season given his regular appearances at his club in the ZSL.

11. Owen Tembo: The Power Dynamos man got a chance to start in the middle of the pack in the first two games and showed some of his workhorse attributes. One of the credible ambassadors of the Zambian Super League and possibly staking a claim in the squad beyond the AFCON.

12. David Simukonda: The Zesco United midfielder got a start in the game against Comoros after his substitute appearance in the opening game convinced the technical bench of his value. At only 20 years old and a discernible club career at Zesco United he has enough time to make his bones in Zambia colours.