FAZ hope Mwepu and Patson will be released

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Aug 25, 2021. 17:00

FAZ remains hopeful its England-based stars may be available for  Septembers’ FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B qualifiers despite the English FA banning clubs from releasing call-ups heading to Covid 19 red-listed countries.

The English FA’s directive means Leicester City striker Patson Daka and Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu would not be released by their respective clubs particularly for Zambia’s second Group B qualifier at home against Tunisia on September 7 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Zambia is on the red list meaning travellers from there to the United Kingdom require mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Britain.

But Chipolopolo’s opening Group B qualifier hosts on September 3 Mauritania are amber listed meaning and travellers from there do not require quarantine if they are fully vaccinated.

“We have learnt of the Premier League clubs’ decision to withhold their  players for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for countries  on the red list for Covid-19 with deep regret,” FAZ spokesperson Sydney Mungala told ZNBC from Morocco on Wednesday where the team is currently holding a ten-day training camp.

“Our position is this being a FIFA window we expect the world soccer body to provide guidance in our case.

“Zambia is on the red list while Mauritania and Morocco, where the team is currently camped, is in the clear.

“It is the home match against Tunisia that is of great concern but we are hopeful and by engaging the clubs involved and FIFA’s intervening we can reach an amicable understanding.”

Arrivals into the United Kingdom from red-listed countries require mandatory ten days of self-quarantine in a hotel at their own cost.

The lengthy quarantine would see returning players miss at least two competitive games minus training.