Four players have now been officially ruled out of Zambia’s 2025 Africa Cup Nations (AfCON) qualifiers against Chad, adding to the country’s already long injury list.
US Lecce winger Lameck Banda and Edward Chilufya of Denmark’s Midtjylland were the first to be ruled out on Monday.
Chilufya left the game with a groin injury during Midtjylland’s 2-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. In the 89th minute of that match, he scored after being introduced as a substitute.
Banda also sustained a knee injury, missing Lecce’s Serie A away loss to Udinese by a score of 1-0.
The dou was replaced by Evans Kangwa of Qingdao Hainiu and Kingstone Mutandwa of Cagliari.
The team’s captain, Lubambo Musonda, who suffered an injury as well during FC Magdeburg’s 2-2 draw with Greuther Fruth on Sunday, has now joined the list. He is officially out of the squad with Dominic Chanda of Power Dynamos called up to replace him, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has confirmed.
Sunzu to undergo fitness test, Emmanuel Banda handed late call up
Al Tai midfielder Emmanuel Banda has received a late call-up, and defender Stoppilla Sunzu is also doubtful for the two games because he hasn’t yet passed the fitness test.
Avram Grant’s 26-man provisional team regrouped in Ndola, with foreign-based players, Frankie Musonda, Evans Kangwa, Joseph Sabobo Banda, Clatous Chama, and Kennedy Musonda among those who had already reported to camp on Monday.
Zambia will host Chad on Friday at 15:00 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola before traveling to Yaoundé Cameroon for the second leg four days later.
The Chipolopolo can seal their qualification for next year’s AfCON with back-to-back victories in this international window if Ivory Coast also defeats Sierra Leone.
Grant’s side is currently ranked second in Group G with three points, behind leaders Ivory Coast, who top with six points, while Sierra Leone and Chad have one point each.
