Mwepu and Patson's absence not to blame for loss

by Staff Reporter

Friday Sep 10, 2021. 14:00

Chipolopolo midfielder Lubambo Musonda says the absence of some key players like Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu was not a factor in Tuesday’s 2-0 home loss to Tunisia on match-day-two of the FIFA World Cup  Qatar 2022 Group B  qualifiers.

Chipolopolo tumbled at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola without their English-based duo that earlier featured in the 2-1 away win over Mauritania in a match Mwepu captained and scored the opening goal.

But Mwepu and Patson had to return to England after the victory over Mauritania to avoid undergoing a mandatory 10-day quarantine required for UK arrivals from Zambia that is on the Red-Listed Covid-19 Nations.

Furthermore, influential midfielder Augustine Mulenga of Amazulu in South Africa missed both September dates due to injury.

“Sometimes we miss players but we don’t want to make that as an excuse for our loss,”Lubambo said.

“We just have to work whether Paston or Enock are not there. It was just the result that we could not get.

“We will learn from this game, we will learn what happened today in the other remaining games.

“It is just the second game; we still have a chance and we will keep working.”

Chipolopolo stay put at number two on 3 points, three points behind leaders Tunisia after two rounds of matches played in Group B.

Zambia will play third placed Equatorial Guinea next on October 6 away in Malabo and on October 10 in Lusaka.

Equatorial Guinea also have 3 points following their 1-0 home win over bottom of the log Mauritania on September 7.