Simba SC striker Moses Phiri is one of the notable names missing on the strikers list in the latest Zambia National team squad released Monday by coach Aljosa Asanovic.
Despite the former Zanaco striker already hitting the ground running in the Tanzanian Premier League where he has so far scored four goals for the current joint log leaders, Simba, who are on 7 points, level with defending champions Young Africans (Yanga), Namungo, and Mtibwa Sugar, he has not made a cut in the Chipolopolo squad.
Out of the 7 goals scored by Simba in their opening 3 matches this season in the Tanzanian league, Phiri has scored 3 and also contributed a goal in their triumph over Nyasa Big Bullets of Malawi as they recorded a 2-0 away win in the CAF Champions League last weekend.
In terms of form in comparison with the strikers summoned by Asanovic, Phiri is currently the leading scoring Zambian striker playing outside the country, with an overall tally of 4 goals.
However, the strikers called to duty for the international friendly matches this month, have scored a combined total of 1 goal only.
Apart from Patson Daka who scored one goal and provided an assist in the English Premier League for Leicester city, the other strikers called up by Asanovic are yet to find the back of the net this season.
Fashion Sakala has been relegated to the bench at Rangers FC where he is now hardly getting game time since the start of the 2022-23 season having only played 12 minutes in the Scottish Premiership, while Evans Kangwa has played 3 matches in the Russian National Football League but he is yet to find the back of the net with Ricky Banda also having a slow start to the Super League season with Red Arrows as he is also yet to score.
Many would have thought, that Phiri can easily walk into the Chipolopolo provisional squad as he is the only scoring striker. At Simba, he has proven to be lethal, just like he carried Zanaco throughout last season when goals seemed hard to come by at Sunset Stadium in the 2021/22 Super League season.
Phiri possesses good speed, the ability to take on defenders, desire to go for goal when presented with an opportunity and has the ability to turn provider when he finds some pockets of space in the opponent’s areas but it seems, he is not in Asanovic’s plans yet.
The Simba striker has 24 national team caps and only managed to score twice in the Chipolopolo colours with his last appearance being in a 3-1 loss to Tunisia during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after being introduced in the second half to replace the 2012 AFCON winner Evans Kangwa.
Coach Asanovic named a 27-member squad for the September FIFA international window which will see Zambia play two friendly matches against Mali and Libya on the 21st and 25th September 2022.
ASANOVIC’S FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD:
(GOALKEEPERS)
Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Toaster Nsabata (Sekhukhune-RSA)
(DEFENDERS)
Benedict Chepeshi, Allan Kapila (both Red Arrows), Shemmy Mayembe (Zesco United), Miguel Chaiwa (BSC Young Boys-Switzerland), Frankie Musonda (AYR United-Scotland), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Luka Chamanga (Power Dynamos)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Edward Chilufya (Midtjylland-Denmark), Prince Mumba (NK Istra-Croatia), Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United), Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Emmanuel Banda (Djurgårdens – Sweden), Roderick Kabwe (Sekhukhune-RSA), Kings Kangwa (FK Crvena Zvezda-Serbia), Enock Mwepu (Brighton-England), Lubambo Musonda (Horsens FC-Denmark), Clatous Chota Chama (Simba SC-Tanzania), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe-DRC), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos), Rally Bwalya (Amazulu-RSA)
(STRIKERS)
Patson Daka (Leicester City-England), Evans Kangwa (Arsenal Tula-Russia), Fashion Sakala (Glasgow Rangers-Scotland), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows)
