By Kennedy Gondwe

Sichone is back in favour

Former Zambian captain Moses Sichone will return to the national team for the first time in almost 18 months for Saturday's Cosafa Cup semi-final against Malawi in Blantyre.

The 26-year-old defender from FC Cologne in Germany was named in a 19-man squad for the match in the annual southern African championship.

Sichone has not played since the 2002 Nations Cup finals in Mali in January last year after falling out with officials in a dispute over remuneration for foreign-based players.

I feel very happy to return to the national team after a long time Moses Sichone

But after being sent off in the opening match of the Bundesliga season at Borussia Moenchengladbach on August 3, he is serving a three-game suspension for his club and is available again to play for Zambia.

"I have always wanted to play for Zambia but I could not get along with the FA because of the way they have treated foreign-based players," Sichone told BBC Sport website.

"I feel very happy to return to the national team after a long time.

"Zambia is my country and I've always said I'm a Zambian who wants to contribute to the country's football progress."

Sichone is one of three foreign-based players called up by coach Patrick Phiri.

The squad also includes new captain Sashi Chalwe of South African club Mamelodi Sundowns and Russian-based striker Chaswe Nsofwa.