Daka: Photo Credit: Football Association of Zambia.
Leicester City’s Patson Daka and other stars have been ruled out of Zambia’s Chipolopolo friendly against Russia on Tuesday, March 2025.
Striker Daka will miss the friendly at the VTB Arena alongside Italy-based midfielder Lameck Banda and defenders Frank Musonda (United Kingdom) and Stoppila Sunzu who plays club football in China.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has attributed the absentees to injuries and travel hitches. Zambia coach Avram Grant has traveled with a squad full of home-based players with a few exceptions being the Switzerland-based duo of Miguel Chaiwa, Joseph Banda, Emmanuel Banda (Saudi Arabia), Songa Chipyoka, Gift Mphande, Kings Kangwa (both Israel), Kennedy Musonda, Clatous Chama (Tanzania), Edward Chilufya (Denmark).
Photo Credit - Zambia FA.
The Chipolopolo have since arrived in Moscow ahead of Tuesday’s friendly. Grant has since told FAZ media that his squad can deliver the goods despite the absentees due to injuries and travel challenges from some destinations.
FAZ has organized the warm-up to atone for their non-participation in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for Africa.
The Chipolopolo will use the game against Russia to remain active after their opponents in the World Cup qualifiers Eritrea and Congo Brazzaville withdrew and were suspended.
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