Francisco Mwepu scored his first official goal for Cádiz CF’s first team in a 2-2 draw with Tenerife on Saturday, marking his La Liga 2 debut. The Zambian striker was upbeat after coming off the bench to register a crucial equalizer, completing a comeback for the hosts.
Tenerife went 2-0 up at the Nuevo Mirandilla stadium through Youssouf Diarra and Luismi Cruz. Half an hour into the second half, Cádiz substitute Álex Fernández pulled one back with a thumping penalty.
Facing a second defeat in three La Liga 2 outings, Cádiz manager Paco López turned to Mwepu, bringing him off the bench in the 81st minute.
The Chipolopolo forward was denied an assist shortly after his introduction when he set up a goal from an offside position. However, he took matters into his own hands in the 94th minute, converting a loose ball from point-blank range to equalize for the home side.
López was impressed with Mwepu and Fernández who scored the goals after coming on as substitutes.
“They have given us a lot once again. They have brought a lot of energy, desire and drive,” he said.
The 24-year-old has now scored in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tiers of Spanish league football for Cádiz, Átletico Sanluqueño, and Cádiz B, respectively. He joined Cádiz as a free agent in 2022 after leaving Austrian side SK Sturm Graz.
Mwepu describes his first goal as important
Prior to his Austrian move, the Copper Bullets striker played for Kafue Celtics FC in his youth before spending a year at Red Arrows FC.
After signing with Cadiz CF, he represented the reserve team, Cádiz B, in the 2022–23 Segunda Federación, scoring seven goals. The club then loaned him to 3rd-tier outfit Átletico Sanluqueño, where he scored nine goals, helping them avoid relegation.
Mwepu was integrated into the first team ahead of the 2024-25 season by new Cádiz coach, López. Before Saturday, his only official game for Cádiz was in 2023, when he became the first Zambian to play in the Spanish La Liga.
Reacting to his heroics, Mwepu admitted, “I’m very happy because this goal is very important to me.”
“It’s not over until it’s over. I am happy to make my debut and scoring my first goal and thanks to the fans,” said the Chipolopolo striker.
While his club season is up and running, Mwepu was snubbed a Zambian national team call-up for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone in early September.
Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant, who will be without talisman Patson Daka, is in desperate need of a striker and is probably having second thoughts about leaving out Mwepu after his man-of-the-match performance on Saturday.
