JUST seven days after lifting the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup, Zambia embarks on another mission today, this time seeking a place in the Orange 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in South Africa.

Fired up after that COSAFA triumph, Zambia begins the campaign for the third CHAN edition with a juicy first round qualifier against a vengeful Botswana at Molepolole Sports Complex's synthetic turf this afternoon.

After failing to reach the 2011 CHAN finals, Zambia, who struck bronze at the inaugural event in 2009, would be eager to return to the continental competition which, like the COSAFA, is restricted to home-grown players.

Going into this first leg, coach Herve Renard believes his developmental squad would be able to get a decent result here and seal qualification to the final round next weekend at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

However, Renard is aware that Botswana, who want to avenge the 1-3 loss in 2009 CHAN qualifiers, would be a difficult team to beat before their partisan home crowd.

Botswana's under-fire coach, Stanley Tsoshane believes the Zebras would ride on home-ground advantage to beat the Chipolopolo developmental squad and said he was eager to qualify to the 2014 CHAN finals.

"We will give the best against Zambia. We want to get a comfortable win and we will take advantage of the fans to beat Zambia. We are ready to give them a good game," Tsoshane told the local Mmegi Newspaper.

While aiming to take Zambia back to the CHAN finals, Renard said he was using the competition to give the much needed exposure to the local players to fight for places in the senior Chipolopolo squad.

The Frenchman believes his charges who proved their abilities during the 2013 COSAFA Cup have what it takes to qualify to the CHAN finals.

To get past the Zebras, who despite not losing a game, failed to get past the preliminary round of COSAFA.

On the other hand, Renard, whose charges only jetted into Gaborone less than 24 hours before the clash, is expected to field his winning squad with Nkana striker, Evans Kangwa being the only fresh inclusion.

The 2013 COSAFA best goalkeeper, Danny Munyau is the sure starter between the posts with skipper Bronson Chama marshalling the defence together with Christopher Munthali.

Jimmy Chisenga and Fackson Kapumbu will be policing the wings as COSAFA Player-of-the- Tournament, Mukuka Mulenga and Kondwani Mtonga orchestrate play from the midfield.

Burly strikers Bornwell Mwape and Festus Mbewe are expected to start upfront with Alex Ng'onga complementing the Zambian raids.

Renard still has a luxury of fusing in fit-again dribbling wizard, Bruce Musakanya, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, and free-kick specialist, Kabaso Chongo.

Tsoshane, whose charges had more rest than Zambia after the COSAFA Cup, is expected to be without key striker, Tebogo Sembowa, who is struggling to shake off a groin injury.

"Our biggest challenge right now is Sembowa's groin injury," he said.

However, 2013 COSAFA Cup golden boot winner, Jerome Ramatlahakwana, who rattled the net four times during the regional event, should lead the Zebras' raids.

The winner between Zambia and Botswana over two legs will clash with either Zimbabwe or Mauritius in the final round of CHAN qualifiers.

Probable line-up: Danny Munyau, Fackson Kapumbu, Jimmy Chisenga, Christopher Munthali, Bronson Chama, Kondwani Mtonga, Mukuka Mulenga, Sydney Kalume, Festus Mbewe, Bornwell Mwape, Alex Ng'onga.

And Brenda Katongola reports that a 20-member locally-based Zambia soccer team yesterday left for Gaborone around 16:30 hours ahead of this afternoon's 2014 CHAN first leg qualifier against Botswana.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications manager, Erick Mwanza confirmed the team's departure from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport yesterday, saying the Chipolopolo's departure was delayed by Botswana Airline for about 2 hours 45 minutes.