The 24-year-old Inter Miami FC defender who was born in Zambia to both Congolese parents before moving to the United States has not been cleared to play for the Zambia national team five months seven applying for Zambian citizenship.
Mabika and British-born defender Frankie Musonda both pledged allegiance to represent the Zambian colours in March this year which saw them make their debuts for Zambia in two friendly matches.
The two through the Football Association of Zambia applied for Zambian citizenship to be eligible to play for the Chipolopolo Boys in competitive matches but the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security only awarded citizenship to Musonda who was born to a Zambian father and British mother.
Musonda who plays for Scottish championship side Ayr United FC, went on to feature for the Chipolopolo boys in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ivory coast and Comoros in June at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka while Mabika up to date has not been given a Zambian passport and the relevant authorities have not given an explanation to the media amid several queries.
An effort by Bola News on Thursday to find out the status of Mabika’s naturalization process proved futile by press time.
However, there have been social media reports suggesting that the player’s naturalization has stalled because his Congolese parents who are supposed to give consent to his switch of allegiance to Zambia have not been available for an interview with the Authorities but both FAZ and the Ministry have not confirmed or denied these reports.
FAZ says it will continue waiting for an update from the ministry on how far they have gone with the process despite them being quiet for the last seven months.
