Christopher Katongo will captain Zambia at the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) in Rwanda. Katongo has received a surprise Zambia recall this week after a 14-month exile. The 2012 Africa Cup-winning captain is one of two veteran players from that team called to bolster a Zambia side seeking better fortunes at Chan after a poor 2015 all round for the senior and junior national teams. “It goes without saying; Mr Christopher Katongo will have to assume the hierarchy,” Zambia team manager Lusekelo Kamwambi said. Katongo has not played for Zambia since October, 2014 in a 0-0 away draw against Niger in a 2015 Africa Cup qualifier. He was subsequently axed from the team after that match in a radical purge of veterans during the reign of Honour Janza. However, Kamwambi has not stated whether Katongo’s return could see him back for other Chipolopolo engagements in 2016. “I think let as deal with that one when we cross that bridge,” Kamwambi said. Katongo has been recalled together with midfielder Isaac Chansa who is also another 2012 Africa Cup star. Chansa has not played for Zambia since June, 2014 in a 4-3 friendly loss against Japan in Florida. Both Katongo and Chansa are eligible to play at the Chan, a second tier Africa Cup tournament exclusively for home-based players. Katongo returned home in July after ten years overseas and returned to Green Buffaloes whom he helped win the 2015 Barclays Cup. Chansa on the other hand has been at Zanaco for the last two seasons that was punctuated by a brief spell at Indian club NorthEast United from August to December 2014. Both players reported for preliminary training camp that began in Lusaka on December 22.
