Young Africans SC striker Kennedy Musonda been praised by Zambia national team coach Avram Grant for stepping up and assisting the Chipolopolo Boys in earning a spot in the 2025 Morocco Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the second consecutive year under his leadership.
When at least eight of the Chipolopolo’s key players were sidelined by injuries sustained during the qualifying campaign, including Leicester City striker Patson Daka, who sustained an ankle injury in August during his team’s preseason, the Chipolopolo were dealt a serious blow during the just-finished qualifiers.
US Lecce winger Lameck Banda also missed the last two crucial games against Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone, which Zambia won 1-0 and 0-2 to qualify for the tournament.
Other key players who were ruled out were Midtjylland winger Edward Chilufya, Magdeburg defender and Zambian captain Lubambo Musonda. BSC Young Boys’ Miguel Chaiwa was also ruled out after he tore ligaments in his right ankle.
In the absence of Daka, who finished as Zambia’s top scorer in the previous qualifiers with five goals, Grant was forced to make use of the options at his disposal. He gave Musonda the opportunity to lead in Zambia’s attack.
The Tanzania-based striker went on to score four goals in six qualifiers, including the game-winning goal against Ivory Coast, to guarantee his nation’s spot in the 2025 AFCON.
Musonda placed among the top scorers in the qualifiers, only falling behind Serhou Guirassy of Guinea (6) and Brahimi Diaz of Morocco (7).
Musonda’s Impact Unexpected- Grant
Grant did not anticipate Musonda’s impact in the qualifiers, describing him as a great character who works hard.
“I said to the players, take your chances, and Kennedy [Musonda] did because he didn’t play before. He’s a great character,” the Israeli gaffer told SportsBoom.
Grant continued: “He scored and came on in place of an amazing striker, Daka. He scored three goals in five games. Very decisive goals. And more than this, he works so hard on the pitch. Unbelievable. And I’m so happy for him also and for us because he’s doing his job more than expected.”
For musonda, scoring goals and assisting the team in earning AFCON as a dream come true.
“For me, Zambia comes first. I am happy to be part of the team and help the team qualify,” Musonda said in a post-match interview. “It’s a dream come true. These are the things you dream about when you are young, and to actually do it is incredible.”
READ MORE: Kennedy Musonda Reveals His Joy After Vital Goal For Zambia Against Ivory Coast
