Wedson Nyirenda says it would be demeaning to his job to field a second-string team or experiment in their formality 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against defending Aftican champions Cameroon.

Cameroon have named their regular line-up that includes 13 players who featured in the 1-1 first leg draw on November 12, 2016 in Limbe.

Furthermore, nine of Cameroon’s starting XI from their 2017 AFCON winning team that beat Egypt 2-1 in the finals in February in Gabon is in the travelling party.

Both second placed Zambia (7 points) and 3rd positioned Cameroon (6 points) are battling for the pride of finishing runners-up in Group B after Nigeria qualified on an unassailable 13 points with a game in hand.

“We are playing a World Cup qualifier and not the CHAN. Cameroon released their team after I released mine and you think they are here to play? They mean serious business so we must be serious in football every time,” Nyirenda said.

Nyirenda added that a favourable result against Cameroon will see Zambia continue with their current two-month rebound on the FIFA charts after jumping 18 places  to  78  in  September  and  are currently 77 as of October.

Cameroon are 42nd in the World. 

“The players themselves must win bonuses, the rankings are there to be maintained because we have climbed in ways Zambia has never climbed before,”Nyirenda said.

Nyirenda added that all Grade A matches during his tenure will not be used for trials regardless of the magnitude as he tries to solidify the rebuilding process.

The home-based Zambia team has qualified for the 2018 CHAN to be held in Morocco in January.

“This team is on the verge of being consolidated and we are playing the World Cup and this is for our continental guys so we cannot alter that,” said Nyirenda.

“So when you have a plan for a big team, you don’t alter the team. A few (local) boys will be given a chance to play, but those that will, will only be the custodians of the CHAN team. Just because it is a formality game you cannot just pick any Jim and Jack just for trials. This is a big game and not for trials and all eyes are on us.”