Patson and Fashion to miss home game against Equatorial Guinea

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Oct 06, 2021. 16:26

For the second time in the World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers, Chipolopolo Zambia will be without all their British-based players for their Group B home leg matches.

Leicester City striker Patson Daka and Glasgow Rangers attacker Fashion Sakala will only feature in Thursday’s first leg of their Group B doubleheader against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo but will not travel to Zambia due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Brighton midfielder Enoch Mwepu was already ruled out for both legs due to a groin injury.

“FIFA has secured a conditional waiver with the English FA for players travelling to red listed countries that they will be exempted from the 10-day mandatory quarantine on condition that they are fully vaccinated. Regrettably, our two players (Daka and Sakala) are not fully vaccinated and cannot travel to Zambia for Sunday’s match.” FAZ general secretary Adrian Kashala said.

Patson and Mwepu played in Zambia’s 2-1 away win over Mauritanian on October 3 while Fashion missed that match including the subsequent Group B home game against Tunisia due to injury.

Mwepu and Patson then missed the match against Tunisia in Ndola on October 7 to avoid undergoing mandatory 10-day quarantine upon their return to the United Kingdom from Covid-19 Red Listed Zambia.

Meanwhile, Chipolopolo coach Beston Chambeshi has summoned replacements in the form of the Swedish-based attacking duo of Edward Chilufya and Emmanuel Banda of Djurgardens who will be available for Sunday’s final leg date against Equatorial Guinea.

Chambeshi is also awaiting Chipolopolo new number one Mwenya Chibwe of Baroka FC in South Africa to join the team in Malabo later on Wednesday.

Chibwe missed the six-day transit training camp that ended on Wednesday in neighbouring Cameroon to deal with an appointment at the Passport Office in Lusaka.