Johannesburg - Zambia, the defending Africa Cup of Nations champions have submitted their final 23-man squad for the tournament which kicks off on January 19, 2013.

All 16 teams have to submit their player list by midnight on Wednesday 9 January as per the Confederation of African Football's rules.

Coach Herve Renard has selected 19 of the 23 players who claimed the title in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in 2012, leaving out Chintu Kampamba, Salulani Phiri and Shadreck Malambo, while Kalililo Kakonje misses out on selection due to injury. Danny Munyau has been called up to replace him. Five of the players selected ply their trade in South Africa while four others are former PSL players.

Zambia are in Group C with Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ethiopia, and they kick off their title defence against the latter on January 21st and will play all their matches in Nelspruit at the Mbombela Stadium.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free States Stars, South Africa), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos), Daniel Munyau (Red Arrows)

Defenders: Stopilla Sunzu, Hichani Himonde, Francis Kasonde (All TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United, South Africa), Joseph Musonda (Golden Arrows, South Africa), Emmanuel Mbola (FC Porto, Portugal)

Midfielders: Rainford Kalaba, Nathan Sinkala (Both TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Mukuka Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Isaac Chansa (Henan Jianye, China), Chisamba Lungu (Ural Oblast, Russia) , Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico, Angola), Noah Chivuta (Free States Stars, South Africa) , William, Njobvu (Hapoel Be'er Sheba, Israel)

Strikers: Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton, England), Collins Mbesuma (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht, Netherlands), James Chamanga (Dalian Shide, China), Jonas Sakuwaha (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Christopher Katongo (Henan Jianye, China)