According to a statement released by FAZ Media, Sichone will be assisted by his contemporaries from his playing days, Andrew Sinkala, who until now was based in Germany and former international Perry Mutapa, who is in charge of Green Eagles Football Club.
Meanwhile, 2012 AFCON-winning goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene will be the goalkeeper coach, while Noel Mwandila becomes the strikers’ coach. Chipolopolo legend Joseph Musonda will be the fitness coach.
Confirming the appointments, FAZ Secretary General Machacha Shepande said the newly appointed technical bench led by Sichone will be in charge of the team during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) slated for Morocco from December.
“The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) 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,” said Shepande.
Shepande went further to explain why FAZ had settled for a local technical bench, saying they had enough experience from their playing days to guide the team.
“FAZ considered the unique circumstances of scouting for a coach in the short term and opted to install confidence in local resources with great international exposure.
“The combined assemblage of our new technical bench has enough experience from their playing days in top leagues. Collectively their transition to coaching after their playing days has been admirable and has been under our watch over the years,” added Shepande.
Sichone will be in charge against South Africa and Burundi
Sichone was a longtime assistant coach to Grant, while Sinkala, who once starred for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, FC Koln, Augsburg and SC Paderborn. He transitioned to coaching in Germany after hanging up his boots.
Sinkala and Mutapa famously played together at the 1999 U-20 FIFA World Cup under coach Patrick Phiri and were elevated to the senior squad after their exploits at the tournament.
Sinkala holds a UEFA B Plus Licence, which is a new level in the coaching certification, and his current coaching job is at FC Hennef. He previously coached at TFC Cologne.
Mweene is currently the goalkeeper coach at Mamelodi Sundowns.
Their first assignment will be the November 15 and 18 FIFA window international friendlies, which will see Zambia play South Africa and Burundi, respectively.
The coaching role fell vacant following Zambia’s decision to part ways with the former Chelsea coach less than two months before AFCON 2025. Grant was hired by Zambia in December 2022, having previously guided Ghana to second place at the 2015 AFCON and fourth in the following edition.
After coaching four Israeli clubs from 1986, then the national team, Grant was hired by Chelsea in 2007. He later managed West Ham United.
Zambia have been drawn in Group A of the AFCON in Morocco alongside Mali, hosts Morocco, and Comoros. The Chipolopolo will kick off their campaign against Mali, face Comoros on matchday two, before taking on the Atla Lions in their final group fixture.
Zambia's greatest AFCON success was winning the tournament in 2012, a historic victory achieved after beating the Ivory Coast in a dramatic penalty shootout in the final. The Chipolopolo had previously been runners-up in 1974 and 1994 and had reached the semi-finals on multiple occasions.
Zambia have played in eighteen editions of the AFCON.
