Striker Winston Kalengo and goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene have been ruled out of all Zambia training for Wednesday’s 2016 Africa Cup Group E qualifier against Congo-Brazzaville.
The duo can only join the team on Tuesday evening after they were struck in Congo-Brazzaville that was in lockdown over the weekend when it held presidential elections.
Kalengo and Mweene were on CAF Champions League duty on Saturday for AC Leopards and Mamelodi Sundowns respectively in a match that ended 1-1 in Brazzaville but saw the latter advance to the last 16 stage 2-1 on aggregate.
“Kalengo and Mweene will be last players to join the team. We expect them to arrive tomorrow night because they had a situation which was beyond our control. As you aware, they were presidential elections in Congo over the weekend and all the airports were closed, the internet and all communications were down too and the flights have just started coming in and out later today and tomorrow,” acting Zambia team manager Stan Kaseko said in Ndola on Monday afternoon.
Mweene, who was expected to fly on a scheduled flight with Kalengo, is now due to use Sundowns charter flight from Brazzaville to Johannesburg then connect to Ndola.
Kalengo has been rerouted on another scheduled flight.
Meanwhile, the Zambia camp received its first group of foreign-based call-ups at lunchtime on Monday.
South African based duo of Collins Mbseuma and Davies Nkausu including the TP Mazembe trio of Nathan Sinkala, Kabaso Chongo and Rainford Kalaba all reported at the teams camp at Mukuba Hotel on Monday afternoon.
Stopilla Sunzu, Emmanuel Mbola, Evans Kangwa and Lubambo Musonda were expected later on Monday.
Meanwhile, Zambia held their first evening training session at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Monday night where Wednesday’s game will be played at 18h00.
The team had earlier trained on Monday morning with just the 13 home-based players.
Congo lead Group E on 4 points, tied with second placed Zambia after two rounds of matches played.
WISH ALL THE BEST TO OUR LOVELY NATIONAL TEAM.
“Kalampa family take it or leave it pali SATE SATE he is (KUBANGELESHI) but nothing comes there even his father he has stoped clubing coz of him.
I’m happy to see KALULU on our beloved mother’s team”.
Already confusions starts with FAZ, no team manager. Why didn’t Kamanga & his PF help the stranded players?
What was the lesson of chartering a plane for veteran Elijah Litana who arrived a few hours before a crucial qualifier in SA way back in 96/97? A disastrous 3-0 drubbing by SA. If these guys can’t make it the coach should have plan B & C instead of relying on people who will arrive fatigued. Mweene is not even playing for his team.
True. Mweene is not playing in the first eleven. The Zesco keeper should be the first choice.
Wish Chipolopolo good luck.
Guys, Galu is dead and buried. He died when he missed the penalty. Let us not even talk about him.
Mweene shouldnt start, Jacob between the two poles please ba coacha. KCI you are very uncivilized my boy, you will soon remember the great Kalu.