The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and the Chipolopolo technical bench are sweating over the naturalization of Aime Mabika and Frankie Chisenga Musonda.
During his weekly update, FAZ President confirmed that the case of the defensive duo was in the hands of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but raised concern with time running out ahead of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
Last week Kamanga revealed that the Association had mobilized all the paper work needed to naturalize the two players for the Chipolopolo Boys.
“We are also keeping our fingers crossed on the request for the fast-track naturalization of Frankie Musonda and Aime Mabika whose case is now in the hands of the ministries of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs. Worryingly, time is fast running out to get this matter settled,” – Kamanga wrote in his President Corner post.
Once Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs are done, both should be issued with Zambian passports then FIFA will be notified after which they too should give the all clear for the duo to feature for the Chipolopolo in a proper International Fixture.
The Copper Bullets were drawn in group H alongside hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Comoros and Lesotho for the qualifiers of the 34th edition of the international men’s football championship of Africa.
Aljosa Asanovic’s men will start their campaign with an away fixture against the 2015 Champions, Ivory Coast on June 3rd.
The 2012 AFCON Champions will then host Comoros on June 7th before a back-to-back engagement with Lesotho at home on September 19 and in Maseru eight days later.
The Enock Mwepu captained side will then host Ivory Coast on March 20th, 2023 before wrapping up their campaign away in Moroni with a date against Comoros on March 28th.
Zambia will be looking for an 18th African Cup of Nations appearance.
Why should the procedure take longer
This is ridiculous. I challenge FAZ to say when they actually started this process. These guys featured for Zambia in March. Its been almost 2 months and now you are starting paperwork?
I would like to agree with Positive Thinking. FAZ should let us know when they exactly submitted papers to the relevant Ministries. We are back to disorganisation again. We saw this during the last W,C qualifiers where players could not travel because their visas were not ready. What were you doing all this time?
Regardless of the situation being delayed we keep our fingers crossed, otherwise Faz pull up its high time that we shouldn’t be panicking with such petty issues.
Agently let them do it fast this seems promising good luck
The FAZ should work on this matter urgently, because this time around we can’t handle it seeing CHIPOLOPOLO failing to qualify for the AFCON.