By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Prospects of Patson Daka making his Chipolopolo return as early as November remain uncertain after Leicester City coach Steve Cooper gave a preliminary assessment of the striker’s fitness.
Daka last week returned to training at Leicester following his recovery from ankle surgery that had put him out of action since mid-August.
Cooper told the Leicester City News that these are still early days of rehabilitation for Daka.
“I’m not sure about the timeline. He’s definitely back on the grass but he’s nowhere near training with the team yet,” Cooper said.
“He’s continuing his rehab well and the medical team are really happy with his progression. And he’s got a brilliant attitude to everything he does.
“He will be back as soon as his body and his injury allow him to.”
Daka sustained the ankle injury in Leicester’s final pre-season away friendly match against French club Lens on August 10 when he was substituted in the early stages of the first half.
Daka’s injury saw him ruled out of Chipolopolo’s 2025 AFCON qualifiers in September plus this month’s double-header date against Chad.
It’s fingers crossed that Daka will make it for the final round of AFCON Group G qualifiers at home against Ivory Coast and away to Sierra Leone during the November 11-19 FIFA international match break.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo entered camp in Ndola on Monday ahead of Friday’s Group G first leg qualifier against Chad at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Defender Frankie Musonda of Scottish second-tier side Ayr United and striker Evans Kangwa of Qunigdao Hainiu in China joined training on Tuesday.
Musonda and Kangwa’s arrival brings to six foreign-based call-ups in the team.
Joseph Sabobo Banda of FC Zurich in Switzerland, Clatous Chama and Kennedy Musonda of Tanzanian champions Young Africans including midfielder Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba of Al Nasr in Libya were all part of Monday’s training in Ndola.
Chipolopolo is second in Group G with 3 points from two games played, three points behind leaders Ivory Coast.
Chad and Sierra Leone have 1 point each heading into the October round of the Morocco 2025 qualifiers.
