The Zambia national team could be without influential midfielder Enock ‘Computer’ Mwepu and striker Patson Daka when they face Mauritania and Tunisia in back-to-back Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
This follows a report on BBC monitored by the ZamFoot Crew that Premier League clubs will not release players for international games in red-list countries.
“The Premier League says its clubs have “reluctantly but unanimously” decided not to release players for matches in red-list countries during September’s international break.
Under current UK government rules, players would be forced to miss several games because of the 10-day isolation period required on return to the UK.
The Premier League said it “strongly supported” the decision, which “will apply to nearly 60 players from 19 clubs who are due to travel to 26 red-list countries”.
Zambia is on the United Kingdom red list for the Coronavirus epidemic meaning Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu would have to undergo a mandatory ten-day quarantine period when/if they come for the World Cup qualifier against Tunisia.
Zambia will be away in Nouakchott on September 3 before hosting Tunisia four days later in Ndola in back-to-back Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Chipolopolo are in Group B with Tunisia, Mauritania, and Equatorial Guinea.
Group winners will join nine other teams on the continent in the final qualifying round that will see teams paired in two-legged knockout ties.
The five winners will qualify for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Why can’t they okay in Mauritania?
Mauritania is on red list, unless the players are fully vaccinated, they still need to self isolate for 10 days upon return to Britain.
Ooops, meant to say Mauritania is on Amber list
Is Mauritania on the red list? Also, why not conduct tests for the players? Also, Daka and Mwepu are yet to start in the EPL so why keep them from playing? This is not right, and the Premier League shouldn’t have that much control on their players international commitments
Yes it is
Sorry @Postive thinking Mauritania is not on the latest red list, but Zambia is, Whooops
By the way; which foreign based players have been called up? Still don’t know who Chambeshi is expecting in Morocco
I have the same question and to be honest i have no confidence sin Chambeshi.
Give us the list of players abroad called for world cup qualifiers.
@ Positive Thinking
The chances are that Chambeshi might not call anyone as we have over 20 local players in the camp . Chambeshi is doing the same thing over and over again and expect different result .🤷🏿♂️
These games are important for us we need the services of Mwepu and Daka. Will keep on dreaming to go to the world cup.
Not for the Tunisia game as Zambia is on the Coronavirus Red list. Mauritania yes
The funny thing is that Tunisia is on the Red list too. Meaning there Pros in Europe wont be allowed to travel, just like Liverpool have aready stated that they wont release Mohammed Salah as Egypt is on the Red list as well
If this is the case why not take our games to be played in England to ensure all our players are available. Besides these games will be played without fans what is the use of playing at home without our supporters and under strength? The powers that be should consider this as plan B.we need to qualify .
Brain wise micho was better than chambeshi.
Ba Zamfoot. Can someone find out who has been called or expected for Mauritania game? Need to know who the foreign based players are. If Chambeshi is planning on starting his campaign on a winning note then he is going to need them.
Yes we need to know.
Greetings fellow Chipolopolo supporters. This is another depressing result of the CoVid pandemic!
Frank has a brilliant idea about playing all the games in England. I hope FIFA thinks along those lines. If not for this round, then at least for the round in October.
On a separate note does anyone know how seriously Mwepu was injured yesterday?
Best wishes,
Andy
Actually, if FAZ was serious. They could move the match elsewhere. Think the fans would be disappointed though.
Zambia they have so many professionals dotted on the globe . That’s poor preparations and corruption. These coaches they do not want to deal established players . They want to market local boys
It would be difficult to play the match in England because both sets of players need to arrive in England 10 days before the game. The Tunisia game is about 5 days after Mauritania.
This is indeed a tricky situation. We need PD, EM and FS if he is fit.
But we have a lot of players in Europe who can help the team. E,Chilufya, E.Banda, the boys in Russia. Cletus, TP boys
These games were initially supposed to be played early August before the season in England started but FIFA changed.
Micho was in charge of Chipolopolo for a long time but despite his poor results no one accused him of corruption because he is white yet Chambeshi has not even played his first game he is already being accused of corruption with his selection.Nooo bane let us be objective.
I hope that Sunzu and Mweene are called. We need their experience.