Zambia's players (Photo: reuters)
Qualifying campaign: Reigning champions Zambia reached the CAN by the skin of their teeth after overcoming Uganda 9-8 on penalties following a 1-1 aggregate draw.
History: Zambia caused a huge upset after winning their first-ever CAN tournament in 2012, beating firm favourites Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties following a goalless draw. They featured 15 times in the biennial tournament, finishing as runners-up in 1974 and 1994.
Expectations: Zambia proved a surprise package in winning the last Nations Cup but took advantage of years of consistent team selection and also the fact they had not been rated as potential champions. It will be completely different for them this time in the glare of the spotlight as they seek to defend their crown.
FIFA ranking: 34 (5 in Africa)
Achievements: CAN winners in 2012, runners up in 1974 and 1994
Coach: Herve Renard (France)
Frenchman Herve Renard returned to take charge of Zambia, for a second successive time, months before taking the team to the Nations Cup title in 2012, a success that led to him being named Africa's coach of the year. He had left Zambia after the 2010 Nations Cup to become coach of Angola but was fired after six months and then moved on to USM Alger in Algeria. The 44-year-old played at Cannes in France before working under compatriot Claude Le Roy in China and with Ghana's Black Stars. He also coached in England and France.
Key Players:
Chris Katongo (Henan Jianye). Age: 30. Pos: Winger
Zambia's captain lifted the trophy last February at the end of a tournament in which he made a major contribution. He has scored in each of the last four finals, since the 2006 edition in Egypt. He was promoted to sergeant in the Zambian army after he scored a hat trick in a Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa in 2007.
Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht). Age: 28. Pos: Forward
Injury ruled out Mulenga from the 2012 winning squad but he returns to lead the attack at the same time as being linked to a possible transfer to an English club. He moved from Zambia's Copperbelt to France aged 20 and played in Ligue 2 before a move to Utrecht in 2009.
Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton) Age: 22. Pos: Forward.
He was the youngest player at the 2008 Nations Cup finals and has played at two tournaments since. Played for Zambia at the World Youth Championship in 2007 and is a beneficiary of the country's long-held policy of fast-tracking promising teenage talent straight into the national team.
Full squad:
Goalkeeper: 22- Daniel Munyau (Red Arrows), 16- Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars), 1- Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos)
Defenders: 5- Hichani Himoonde, 2- Francis Kasonde (both TP Mazembe Englebert), 18- Emmanuel Mbola (FC Porto), 4- Joseph Musonda (Lamontville Golden Arrows), 6- Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United), 13- Stopilla Sunzu (TP Mazembe Englebert)
Midfielders: 8- Isaac Chansa (Henan Jienye), 14- Noah Chivuta (Free State Stars), 17- Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe Englebert), 11- Christopher Katongo (Henan Jienye), 10- Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico), 3- Chisamba Lungu (Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast), 23- Mukuka Mulenga (Power Dynamos), 15- William Njobvu (Hapoel Beer Sheva), 19- Nathan Sinkala (TP Mazembe Englebert)
Forwards: 12- James Chamanga (Dalian Shide), 20- Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton), 9- Collins Mbesuma (Orlando Pirates), 7- Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht), 21- Jonas Sakuwaha (Al Merreikh).
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