Daka, Mwepu excused from June Chipolopolo friendlies

by Staff Reporter

Thursday May 27, 2021. 18:57

Striker Patson Daka and midfielder Enock Mwepu have been excused from Chipolopolo’s three-match friendly tour in June.

Chipolopolo have secured friendly dates against Senegal, Benin and Sudan during the June FIFA international match window that will run from May 31 to June 15.

Daka and Mwepu are fresh off from inspiring RB Salzburg to a seventh successive Austrian league title and are both subject of interest during this summer’s transfer window.

“They are at the crossroads of going to big clubs so under the circumstances endangering them with possible injuries when their minds are elsewhere would be a crime for the nation,” Micho told AF.

Also left out is striker Fashion Sakala who has a confirmed summer move from Belgian club KV Oostende to Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers.

But rotating Chipolopolo captains Lubambo Musonda of Slask Wroclaw in Poland and defender Kabaso Chongo from DR Congo giants TP Mazembe are in the 35-man team Micho unveiled on Thursday.

Lusaka Dynamos striker Collins Sikombe, who has scored nine goals so far in Micho’s nineteen-game reign is in the team, but his attacking partner for both club and country Emmanuel Chabula has been dropped.

They are also debut call-ups for Sikombe’s other club mates namely defender Gaboniso Magenge and striker Wisdom Moyela.

Micho has also given a debut call-up to little-known striker Ntazana Mayembe of Welsh club Cardiff City.

Chipolopolo will kick off their African friendly tour on June 5 against Senegal in Thies and later visit Cotonou on June 8 to play Benin.

Zambia will close the tour on June 11 at Omdurman against Sudan.

GOALKEEPERS: Cyril Chibwe (Polokwane City, South Africa), Lameck Siame (Kabwe Warriors), Gregory Sianjase (Young Green Eagles), Charles Muntanga (Nkwazi)

DEFENDERS:Tandi Mwape,Kabaso Chongo (both TP Mazembe,DRC), Isaac Shamujompa,Golden Mafwenta (Buildcon), Roderick Kabwe (Black Leopards, South Africa), Benedict Chepeshi,Prosper Chiluya (both Red Arrows), Dominic Chanda(Kabwe Warriors),Gaboniso Magenge (Lusaka Dynamos),Klings Kangwa (Arsenal-Tula, Russia), Adrian Chama (Zesco United)

MIDFIELDERS: Benson Sakala, Spencer Sautu (both Power Dynamos), Salulani Phiri (Polokwane City, South Africa), Rally Bwalya, Clatous Chama (both Simba SC, Tanzania), Edward Chilufya, Emmanuel Banda (both Djurgardens, Sweden), Kelvin Mubanga (Zesco United), Prince Mumba (Kabwe Warriors), Edward Lungu (Kitwe United), Amity Shamende (Green Eagles), Paul Katema (Red Arrows)

FORWARDS: Lameck Banda (Maccabi Netanya, Israel), Lubambo Musonda (Slask Wroclaw, Poland), Collins Sikombe, Wisdom Moyela (both Lusaka Dynamos), Moses Phiri, Rogers Kola (both Zanaco) Ntazana Mayembe (Cardiff City, Wales), Brian Mwila (Buildcon), Augustine Mulenga (Amazulu, South Africa)