Zambia Selects 65-Member Team for Accra 2023 African Games

The Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Arts held a press briefing to announce the final team list for the sports that will represent Zambia at the upcoming Accra 2023 African Games to be held from 11-23 March 2024. National Olympic Committee of Zambia Secretary General Boniface Kambikambi represented NOCZ at the event.

Speaking at the briefing, Minister Elvis Nkandu MP revealed that Zambia will be sending a team of 65 athletes, 24 coaches, and 6 medical personnel to the continental tournament. He acknowledged that while the government was willing to send more athletes to increase medal prospects, financial constraints limited the team size.

L-R: NOCZ SG Boniface Kambikambi, Permanent Secretary Kangwa Chileshe and Minister Elvis Nkandu MP during the press briefing

"I would like to thank the federations and the coaches for selecting the most experienced team of athletes, in which we have confidence that they will win medals," Nkandu said.

Zambia will compete in 13 sports codes at the African Games, including six Olympic qualifiers: Athletics (12 athletes, 4 coaches), Badminton (3 athletes, 3 coaches), Cycling (4 athletes, 2 coaches), Table tennis (4 athletes, 1 coach), Swimming (5 athletes, 2 coaches), and Tennis (4 athletes, 1 coach).

The non-Olympic qualifiers include Boxing (10 athletes, 2 coaches), Chess (3 athletes, 1 coach), Judo (6 athletes, 2 coaches), Karate-do (6 athletes, 2 coaches), Basketball (4 athletes, 2 coaches), and Taekwondo (4 athletes, 2 coaches).

Minister Elvis Nkandu MP (centre) giving his remarks during the press briefing

The Minister added that the selection of Team Zambia was done in consultation with the National Olympic Committee of Zambia and the National Sports Council of Zambia. The criteria used included athletes' performance in previous prestigious regional, continental, and international competitions, team rankings, the number of medals won, and qualification through competitions.

During the briefing, Minister Nkandu also recognized the achievements of CAF football referee Diana Chikotesha, who officiated at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, including the final match. He congratulated her and expressed pride in her representation of Zambia at the major football event.

Diana Chikotesha

Darious Kabwe

Patrick Chinyemba

Nkandu further wished Darious Kabwe, a Boxing Referee selected to officiate at the 13th edition of the African Games, good luck.

In his concluding remarks, the Minister acknowledged the presence of Boxer Patrick Chinyemba, who has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Team Zambia is expected to enter the residential camp from Friday 23rd February to 4th March 2024.