Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant has disclosed that he is still unsure whether Aime Mabika’s passport issue has been sorted out for the USA-based defender to come for the Lesotho game.
The Zambian-born defender of Congolese parentage, who plays for USA MLS club Inter-Miami, has been waiting for a year for his naturalization papers to come through.
The Government disclosed a week ago that Mabika was cleared to play for Zambia and that his passport was ready.
“I don’t know what is happening with Mabika and we will deal with this. He is an important player in my plans because he has the quality,” Grant said.
“We are still waiting for the passport to be issued and I am sure that everybody involved is doing their best so that he plays for us.
“He is a good player and after all this, I will make the final list of the players I want to use.”
Meanwhile, Grant has not yet named his foreign-based call-ups for the doubleheader against Lesotho on March 23 in Ndola and March 27 in Johannesburg.
Mabika made his debut a year ago on March 25 at a three-nation friendly tournament in Turkiye in a 3-1 win over Congo-Brazzaville in Antalya.
But the 24-year-old Lusaka-born defender who left Zambia when he was eight has yet to make his competitive debut.
Mabika made his debut together with UK-born defender Frankie Musonda of Scottish second-tier side Ayr United.
Musonda went on to play his first competitive match last June in the 2023 AFCON Group H opening qualifying games against Cote d’Ivoire and Comoros.
What exactly is going on!??
what will you do if Mabika has changed mind from playing for Zambia?
These guys taking care of passport issues are a disgrace especially from embassies.