MOSES PHIRI TION SNUBBED

…as injuries knock out Lubambo Musonda and Lameck Banda

DESPITE having scored four goals in four matches for the Simba SC side that beat Big Bullets of Malawi to progress to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, striker Moses Phiri has not been summoned for the national team scheduled to take on Mali in FIFA international friendlies.

Coach Aljosa Asanovic has unveiled his final 23-member squad ahead of the two FIFA international friendly matches scheduled for September 23 and 26 against Mali in Bamako.

The team consisting of both local and foreign-based stars such as Patson Daka of Leicester City, Enock Mwepu of Brighton and Hove Albion and Glasgow Rangers’ Fashion Sakala is without Phiri who scored a brace on Sunday to propel his CAF Champions League goal tally to three goals.

Phiri’s three goals which propelled Simba to the next preliminary round where they will meet Primeiro De Agosto of Angola and three goals in the Tanzanian Premier League make him the highest scoring Zambian striker outside the country.

Meanwhile, Denmark-based Lubambo Musonda and Lameck Banda of Lecce in Italy will miss out on the international window assignments due to injury.

“Zambia will play Mali on September 23 and 26 in Bamako after the cancellation of the Benghazi outing on account of safety concerns,” The Football Association of Zambia said.

“The Chipolopolo will square off with the Eagles of Mali in back-to-back engagements that will see both teams field their strongest squads as part of preparations for the Ivory Coast 2023 (to be played in January 2024) Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers,”

FAZ noted that foreign-based players will fly directly from their bases into Bamako to join the locally stars who trekked to Mali yesterday.

And Chipolopolo assistant coach Moses Sichone said the friendly games against Mali are crucial as Zambia begins preparations for the Africa Cup qualifiers.

Sichone said the two Friendlies against Mali will give the technical bench an insight of who will be ready for the AFCON qualifiers scheduled for January next year.

FINAL SQUAD GOALKEEPERS:

Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Toaster Nsabata (Sekhukhune United - RSA)

DEFENDERS:

Benedict Chepeshi, Allan Kapila (both Red Arrows),

Shemmy Mayembe (Zesco United), Miguel Chaiwa (BSC Young Boys - Switzerland), Frankie Musonda (AYR United - Scotland), Tandi Mwape ( TP Mazembe-DRC), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Luka Chamanga (Power Dynamos)

MIDFIELDERS

Clatous Chama (Simba SC - Tanzania), Edward Chilufya (Midtjylland - Denmark), Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos), Roderick Kabwe (Sekhukhune United-RSA), Emmanuel Banda (Djurgardens - Sweden), Enock Mwepu (Brighton - England), Kings Kangwa (FK Crvena Zvezda - Serbia).

STRIKERS:

Fashion Sakala (Glasgow Rangers - Scotland), Patson Daka (Leicester City - England), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows), Evans Kangwa (Arsenal Tula - Russia).