Zambia National Team coach Avram Grant has commented on Patson Daka and Lubambo Musonda’s relegation from topflight leagues with Leicester City and AC Horsens, respectively.
Daka who became the first Zambian to score in the Premier League in 2021 and his Leicester City team had a difficult season, which ended with their relegation to the Championship.
He only found the back of the net four times in 13 starts in the just-ended Premier League season.
In his last two seasons at the club, Daka scored a total of nine goals in the Premier League. He also netted 15 goals across all competitions in 74 appearances including four goals in one Europa League game.
Meanwhile, Musonda and his AC Horsens side were also relegated from the Danish top-flight league. He made 22 appearances in the league, scoring three goals and providing three assists.
However, Grant believes their setbacks with their respective clubs will affect them positively.
“It will affect them in a good way,” Grant told BolaNews during a press conference at Football House on Monday.
He added: “The fact that they were relegated, of course, makes them sad…. And that will give them more motivation to show themselves that they are very good players and they didn’t deserve to be relegated. So I think it will affect them positively.”
Grant on what Daka should do after relegation with City
With Daka being linked with a number of clubs, Grant was asked to advise the 24-year-old striker.
He responded: “The best decision he will make is to play very well against Ivory Coast. It’s going to be his best decision. The other thing is that they are professionals; sometimes you are relegated, sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. So you need to deal with any situation.”
RElATED ARTICLE: Former Southampton star tips DAKA on next move
Grant will bank on the likes of Daka, who netted a brace in Zambia’s previous match against Lesotho, to grab the needed point against Ivory Coast and seal qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Chipolopolo Boys will need only a point against the Elephants on June 17th, 2023, at the Levy Mwanawnsa stadium in Ndola to qualify for the Africa Cup for the first time since 2015.
