Noel Mwandila captained Zambia's Olympic team

Zambia have named their squad for the friendly against Zimbabwe in Lusaka on 1 May.

National coach Kalusha Bwalya has called up eight members of the under-23 team that narrowly failed to reach the Athens Olympics after losing 2-0 to Ghana in Kumasi.

Olympic captain Noel Mwandila comes into the squad, and is joined by the likes of Kalililo Kakonje, Felix Simukonda, Isaac Chansa and Christoper Katongo.

Ghana secure Athens berth

Kennedy Mweene, Billy Mwanza and Joseph Musonda also make the step up in the absence of many Europe-based Zambians.

There is also room in the squad for Zacharriah Simukonda, who plays his club football for Sudanese side El-Merreikh.

Zambia and Zimbabwe were supposed to play a friendly shortly before the 2004 Cup of Nations, but Zimbabwe cancelled the tie a few days before with fears of potential injuries and financial worries to the fore.

Both teams are using the tie as preparations for the 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifying campaign.

Zambia will contest Group 1 alongside Senegal, Mali, Togo, Liberia and Congo, while Zimbabwe are in Group 4.

The Warriors must top a group comprising Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Gabon and Rwanda if they are to reach their first World Cup finals in Germany.

Zambian squad:

Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (Power Dynamos), Kennedy Mweene (Kitwe United)

Defenders: Laughter Chilembi (Caps United, Zimbabwe), Stephen Kunda (Power Dynamos), Kunda Mushota (Green Buffaloes), Joseph Musonda (Zesco United), Billy Mwanza (Power Dynamos), Clive Sichondwe (Green Buffaloes), Felix Simukonda (Kabwe Warriors)

Midfielders: Ian Bakala (Caps United, Zimbabwe), Isaac Chansa (Power Dynamos), Christopher Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Misheck Lungu (Green Buffaloes), Numba Mumamba (Zanaco), Noel Mwandila (Green Buffaloes), Justin Mwilima (Zesco United)

Forwards: Songwe Chalwe (Red Arrows), Dudley Fichite (Green Buffaloes), Jacob Mulenga (Afrisports), Zechariah Simukonda (Al Merriekh, Sudan).