The England-based duo of midfield ace Enock Mwepu and striker Patson Daka has joined the Chipolopolo Boys camp in Marrakech ahead of Friday’s Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier against Mauritania.
Mwepu who is on the books of the English Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion is aware of how important this game is and believes because of the AFCON failure the team we do what they have to do and achieve something.
“I am really happy to be here, thank God that I traveled safely. It is always good to be part of the squad, it always gives me that joy knowing that I have some responsibility and some work to do. I am happy and looking forward to the game,” Mwepu told FAZ Media.
“It is a very crucial game, we are starting our World Cup qualifiers, we know that we did not do well in the previous tournament, the Africa Cup qualifiers. We must bring ourselves together and try to do what we have done, try to focus and achieve something.”
The midfielder revealed that going to the World Cup is his dream and believes this is an opportunity to try and help the team qualify and in the process actualizing his dream. Mwepu expects a tight contest in Nouakchott on Friday.
“It has been my dream to try to qualify to the World Cup and take Zambia to the World Cup. This is the opportunity now; we are just starting to try to re-organize and see what we can achieve together as we play Mauritania in the first game. if we can pick up three points in an away game then we are sure that we have something to look forward to at the end of this tournament,” he said.
“It is going to be a tight game, teams are really organized, so many things have improved in today’s football, so we expect a tight game,” he added.
Despite the duo’s availability for the Mauritania game, they may not be available for the home game after Premier League clubs unanimously agreed that they will not release players for international games in 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.
Mwepu is hoping Zambia can reduce the numbers of COVID-19 cases in the next few days so that the duo can make it for the match if Zambia is moved to the Amber or Green list.
“One thing I can plead is that if there is a way, we want to playback home against Tunisia, but because of the things that are going on around Covid-19 we are not allowed. It is a plea maybe to the President; I do not know how they can do it maybe through the Ministry of Health if they can improve on reducing cases in Zambia and put Zambia in green or umber countries so that we can play at home,” he said.
“We love playing at home, it can give us motivation playing at home, it is a plea to the president through the Ministry of Health to help move Zambia outside the red zone.”
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.
Zambia vs Tunisia is the most important game.This is bullshit( EPL )players needs to produce covid 19 negative test even Tunisia team. Why completing issues here.Caf made some directives . Oh because its Africa. Yes.
FIFA and CAF must intervene and allow our African sons help their nations in both games.
Coaches should not create unnecessary crisis they have call up large pool of professionals. This is ridiculous to hear the coach saying we do not call professionals to sit on the bench
It is so interesting for EPL clubs and who ever made this decision,because these guys even if they dose not come to Zambia they have already been in contact with the friend from RED called countries,are they going for 10 isolation or what?please let them play all games,Countries are bigger tha clubs. JUSTIN K
I love your view Justin.. it doesn’t make sense you refuse them enter the country but allow them mingle with those from red list country.