By MICHAEL MIYOBA
WITH two days before Zambia plays Equatorial Guinea in the back-to-back Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Zambia national team doctor George Phiri has confirmed that midfield genius Enock Mwepu and striker Evans Kangwahave been ruled out of the games due to injuries.
While Mwepu has been ruled out of both the away fixture in Equatorial Guinea and the home fixture in Lusaka, Phiri said Kangwa would only miss the away fixture after suffering a minor hamstring injury.
Phiri said Kangwa is being treated and would be fit for the home fixture scheduled for Sunday at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
“The state of players at the moment, generally they are fit and they are doing fine except for two players Enock Mwepu has been ruled out because he suffered a growing injury and he is unable to participate in both the away and home fixture against Equatorial Guinea.
“In regards to Evans Kangwa, he has reported for camp, he suffered a minor injury in the hamstring and we are working on him. He might not be ready for the away game against Equatorial Guinea but for sure he will be ready for the home game, in Lusaka. At the moment he is on light training and we are managing him,” Phiri said.
Phiri said that apart from Mwepu and Kangwa, all the players summoned by Coach Beston Chambeshi are fit and ready for Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile, unbeaten Zambia national women’s soccer team will meet Tanzania in the semifinals of the 2021 Cosafa Womens championships after beating Uganda 1-0 in a group C fixture played yesterday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Captain Grace Chanda scored the lone goal which maintained Zambia’s unbeaten streak at the regional championship after beating eSwatini and Namibia in the first two games.
Zambia and Uganda had started the game at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium seeking a win and started the tightly contested fixture cautiously.
Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape had made three changes to the team which beat Namibia 3-0 as defender Vast Phiri and midfielder Elizabeth Mupeso started for the first time in place of Mary Mulenga and Milika Limwanya respectively.
Penelope Mulubwa also returned in the first 11 replacing Esther Namukwasa for the Copper Queens who came close to breaking the deadlock through Elizabeth Mupeso whose corner was saved by goal keeper Ruth Aturo in the 14th minute.
Uganda almost punished Zambia in the 20th minute through Hasifah Nassuna who directed her free kick over the bar.
Grace Chanda had another opportunity to put Zambia ahead in the 25th minute but saw her shot going high before defender Margret Belemu’s attempt which went straight in the hands of Ruth Aturo three minute after the half hour mark.
Chanda finally broke the deadlock in the 37th minute,
