Mwepu doubt for June 2023 AFCON qualifiers

by Staff Reporter

Sunday May 08, 2022. 14:35

Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Enock Mwepu is a doubt for Chipolopolo Zambia’s 2023 AFCON Group H qualifiers that commence this June.

The Chipolopolo captains’ season at Brighton is probably over due to an injury he sustained a week ago.

Brighton coach Graham Potter told the clubs website that Mwepu’s season is a big doubt to return as he recovers from a groin injury that saw him miss Saturday’s 4-0 home win over Manchester United.

Mwepu sustained the groin injury in last Saturday’s 3-0 away win over Wolves in a match that saw him substituted in the 63rd minute.

His injury comes just three weeks before Chipolopolo begin their 2023 AFCON qualifiers with an away Group H friendly date against tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire on June 4 before playing their official qualifier on June 11 at home in Lusaka against Comoros.

But Mwepu is not Chipolopolo coach Aljosa Asanovic’s only fitness concern ahead of Zambia’s June assignments.

Defender Aime Mabika of USA MLS club Inter Miami is also currently sidelined following an injury he sustained last Sunday in a 2-0 away loss at New England Revolution.

Mabika was substituted in the 19th minute of that match and subsequently missed Saturday’s 1-0 away loss at Charlotte.