By GWEN CHIPASULA –

CAPTAIN Arnold Chishala says Zambia is targeting a top three finish at the South Africa 2016 Futsal African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to qualify for the World Cup finals in Columbia.
Zambia will be among eight teams competing at the Futsal AFCON that starts on April 15 to 24 in Johannesburg, where the top three teams will qualify to the World Cup slated for September 10 to October 1.
Group A has Zambia, hosts South Africa, Mozambique and Tunisia while Egypt, Africa’s highest-ranked team, Libya, Angola and Morocco make up Group B.
Chishala said in an interview that Zambia’s target and dream had always been that of playing at the highest level.
He said the team was happy that their ambition was almost becoming a reality.
“When the national team was formed way back, the dream was to participate at the Africa Cup and put Zambia on the world map.
“As a team we are happy that we have achieved the first part and we are now targeting playing at the World Cup and also want Zambia to be top in futsal,” he said.
He said Zambia would not be intimidated by any opposition because the team had players who were capable of facing any side on the continent.
Chishala said Tunisia were not a tough side but that he was expecting stiff competition from Mozambique.
“Everyone keeps talking about Tunisia, but I feel they are not that much of a tough team. This is the moment we have been waiting for and our target is to put Zambia on the world map by continuing to play high-level futsal,” he said.