Mweene, a former AFCON winner, has been replaced by Zanaco goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata, as Chipolopolo prepare for the dead rubber against the Namibians at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Zambia are bottom of the group on four points after five matches, while Namibia know that a victory in Lusaka would see them qualify for the competition set to take place in Egypt in June.
“Mweene is injured, we cannot risk if he is just recovering, he still needs time,” Zambia’s caretaker coach Aggrey Chiyangi said.
“It won’t be difficult [picking starters] because for us what is important as coaches is to observe. We have called everyone, but at the end of the day we will observe and see those that will be ready to play the game on Saturday.
“The competition levels are very high, looking at the players we have called, where they are coming from, they are playing very well, even those that are going to play are expected to play well.
“The only thing that you have to understand is that playing for the club and the national team are two different things because maybe the way they play at the club is different from the way we are going to ask them to do here.”
Orlando Pirates duo Augustine Mulenga and Justine Shonga are part of the Zambian squad, while Absa Premiership top scorer Mwape Musonda has also been rewarded with a call-up
