By MICHAEL MIYOBA
CHIPOLOPOLO striker Patson Daka may miss the crucial back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against Botswana after he picked a hamstring injury during Red Bull Salzburgs 3-2 defeat to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions’ League Group-A match day two encounter played on Tuesday night.
Daka who started upfront, partnering Mergîm Berisha was substituted in the 30th minute of the game played at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid after he fell to the ground with pain in his thigh.
The former Nchanga Rangers and Power Dynamos striker was replaced by Malian forward Sekou Koita and will be given two weeks to recover completely from the hamstring injury.
And speaking after the dissapointing loss to Madrid, Daka said he would come back stronger after he picked an injury preventing him from getting the crucial Champions league goal.
“The comeback will be stronger than the setback because in every disappointment there’s an appointment,” said Daka after the loss to the Spanish club.
Meanwhile, midfield engineer Enock Mwepu put in an impressive full shift for the Red Bull Salzburg side.
Mwepu who was employed on the right side of the attack was heavily involved in Salzburg’s second goal after unleashing his trademark “Ninkumona pass” to find Captain Andreas Ulmer who assisted Mergim Berisha with a left footed cross.
Despite the spirited fight, Salzburg lost to move into third place on the log with one point from two matches.
Reigning champions Bayern Munich are already dominating the group after collecting six points in their first two matches following the 2-1 beating of Lokomotiv Moscow on Tuesday night.
The win over Daka’s Salzburg pushed Madrid to second with three points. Russian outfit Lokomotiv Moscow only have a point so far.
The next round of fixtures will be played next Tuesday as Salzburg host Bayern at the Red Bull Arena while Lokomotiv will host Madrid.
CHIPOLOPOLO BLOW
