By Kalumiana Kalumiana
Avram Grant says he will not discuss whether Fashion Sakala would start today against Morocco in their formality 2025 FIFA World Cup Group E qualifier at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
This afternoon’s 15h00 kickoff will mark Sakala’s return to the fold since January 2024 at AFCON in the Ivory Coast.
Sakala was later banished from Chipolopolo in May 2024 after criticising Grant over his selection management of players.
Grant said yesterday morning during Chipolopolo’s pre-match media briefing at Levy Stadium that his focus was on getting a good result today.
“I don’t speak about players as individuals.. sorry,” Grant said.
However, Sakala’s return is expected to inject some life into Chipolopolo’s attack which had struggled with consistency.
But Grant said fans should expect a very competitive game against Morocco as Chipolopolo eye to reverse the 2-1 away loss they suffered on June 7, 2024 in Agadir.
Grant added that the match will not be a formality despite Morocco qualifying as Group E winners with two matches to spare.
“We know that Morocco is a very good team but we are also a very good team and we want to show it (today). It will be a very tough game and I wish Morocco had not secured their (World Cup) position so they are more relaxed now,” Grant said. “It is a very strong opponent but you will see tomorrow (today) that Zambia is a very good team and I want to continue our progress. What you have seen over the last two and a half years is a lot of improvement and also how we recover from not so good games and how we recover from other things.”
Grant added that they were now pushing for a second-place finish hopefully to try and make November’s best four second-place finishers playoffs to pick one team next March’s intercontinental playoffs in the USA.
Chipolopolo are third in Group E on 6 points, four points behind second-placed Tanzania while Morocco lead on 18 points.
Meanwhile, Grant will be without midfielder Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba and defender Frankie Musonda who are injured.
But overall, Grant has his key players led by striker Patson Daka and captain Lubambo Musonda who returns after missing the latter phase of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers from September to November due to injury.
