Between 2017 and 2023, Zambia endured a run of failing to qualify to the Africa Cup of Nations, missing out on three tournaments.
During this difficult time one of Zambia’s most reliable players was Leicester City forward Patson Daka.
The Kafue Celtic product wore his heart on his sleeve throughout and showed up every time and delivered scoring goals almost every time for the Copper Bullets.
He was the main man. During the 2021 AFCON qualifiers, Zambia scored 8 goals and conceded 12 .
Daka scored 5 goals as he emerged as joint top scorer with Nigeria’s Victor Osihmen despite missing match day 3 and 4 due to injury. Enock Mwepu, Collins Sikombe and Clatous Chota Chama scored the remaining three goals.
During the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Daka again led Zambia again scoring 5 goals in six games, emerging as the second highest goalscorer in the qualifiers, only Victor Osihmen scored more (10).
Klings Kangwa and Lameck Banda scored two goals each while Fashion Sakala and Enock Mwepu had a goal each with the other goal credited to Serge Aurier as an own goal.
His heroics helped Zambia to qualify for their first continental showpiece appearance since 2015 and 18th overall.
At the tournament Zambia were eliminated in the group stage with Patson and Klings Kangwa as the only two to register a goal.
He missed out on the 2025 AFCON qualifiers as he was out injured, Kennedy Musonda stepped up and helped Zambia qualify scoring three goals as the top goalscorer.
During the 2025 calendar year, Daka has endured one of his worst spells and went eleven months without scoring a goal for club or country.
The former Salzburg talisman ended his dry spell late last month as he scored the second goal for Leicester City who beat Stoke City 2-1 in the English Championship.
During his most trying time, Daka has suffered insults, ridicule and what not from the fans, some very unwarranted.
Some even wanted him dropped from the AFCON squad, very laughable, in preference for who ? It’s not like we have some Godfrey Ucar Chitalu or Kalusha Bwalya being left out somewhere, for avoidance of doubt, we don’t have.
Patson has experience , the heart and willingness to work for mother Zambia even when the fans turn on him he still shows up and does his part, a patriot, that guy.
Currently he is the highest scoring striker for Chipolopolo among active players with 20 goals , the second from him has half that tally. He has better goal ratio for Chipolopolo than some absolute legends like Collins Mbesuma, Dennis Lota, Kenneth Malitoli and Christopher Katongo.
As much as he has had a poor run-in the recent past, He remains our best bet at getting goals.
I am almost sure Moses Sichone will also start him at the Africa Cup of Nations.
All the best Top man and the entire Chipolopolo.
