Zambia arrive in Ghana
Zambia touched down in Accra on Sunday night, becoming the first of 16 teams participating in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations to arrive.
The Chipolopolo party flew in on a British Airways flight from London at 2050 GMT to begin the process of acclimatising to their new surroundings.
They were met at Kotoka International Airport by a delegation from the Local Organising Committee led by the chairman, Dr Kofi Amoah.
Zambia kick off their campaign against Sudan on 22 January in Kumasi, but captain Christopher Katongo played down his team's chances of winning the tournament.
"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 in the arrivals hall.
He added: "Our team has just been built in the last three to four years and we are here to try and do our best."
Two years ago, the Zambians got no further than the first round in Egypt, but Katongo insists they will do better this time around.
"The Zambian people want something better this time, so we want to try and go into the next round and see what's there."
Injury forced coach Patrick Phiri to leave out several key players from his final squad, including striker Collins Mbesuma and the Germany-based duo of Moses Sichone and Andrew Sinkala.
But Katongo said the absence of what is effectively the spine of the team does not amount to a doomed campaign for the southern African nation.
"We have played and won some games without them and the players we have are capable of lifting the Zambian flag high," said Katongo.
Aside from Sudan, Zambia also face four-time African champions Cameroon, and holders Egypt in Group C of the tournament.
