Zambian international Patson Daka will not be part of the Chipolopolo Boys’ final games in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone on Novemeber 15 and 19.
With Avram Grant set to announce his squad today, BolaNews has learned that Daka has not been called as Leicester City does not want to rush him until he fully becomes match fit.
Daka suffered an ankle injury during Leicester City’s final pre-season friendly against Lens, a 3-0 loss in August, and has been sidelined since following surgery.
Leicester City announced earlier this month that the 26-year-old had begun light training after his successful surgery.
Ahead of last Saturday’s English Premier League game against Ipswich, Leicester City manager Steve Cooper confirmed that the former Power Dynamos striker had returned to training with the rest of the team. However, he did not make the match day squad.
Daka had 7 goals and 5 assists in 20 Championship games last season, helping the Foxes to promotion to the Premier League.
He will be hoping to begin his season in the Premier League soon with his City team, which has only one league win, three losses, and four draws.
Zambia to continue without Daka
Daka last featured for Zambia on June 6, 2024 in 0-1 home defeat to Tanzania in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Since then, he has missed all the matches in the AFCON qualifiers.
Zambia will host Ivory Coast on November 15, 2024, at the Levy Mwanawnasa Stadium in Ndola, before finishing the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers away in Sierra Leone.
The Chipolopolo are currently second in Group G with 7 points, trailing Ivory Coast, which leads with 9, while Sierra Leone and Chad are third and fourth with 4 and 2 points, respectively.
They need a win over Ivory Coast and hope the match between Sierra Leone and Chad does not produce a winner for them to qualify for next year’s tournament with a game to spare.
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