Zambia will tackle holders Egypt, Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the improving Sudan in Group C this month.

"Our mission is to go back home with some victories. This is a difficult tournament which you can't win just by talking," Katongo told BBC Sport

"Our team has just been built in the last three to four years and we are here to try and do our best."

The Southern Africans were knocked out of the group stage in Egypt 2006, but Katongo knows that expectations are much higher this year.

"The Zambian people want something better this time, so we want to try and go into the next round and see what's there."

Missing Key Players

The Zambian squad suffered a huge blow when key trio Collins Mbesuma, Moses Sichone and Andrew Sinkala were ruled out of the competition with injuries.

However, Katongo tipped the current team to provide adequate cover for the absentees.

"We have played and won some games without them and the players we have are capable of lifting the Zambian flag high," added the Brondby striker.

Zambia, who were the first team to arrive in Ghana last Sunday, will face Sudan on January 22nd in the first group game in Kumasi.