Trio fail to join Zambia U23 camp

Emmanuel Mbola @ SS com

Three foreign-based players failed to join the Zambia under-23 camp in Lusaka as scheduled on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s 2015 Caf Under-23 Cup qualifying decider against Cote d’Ivoire.

Striker Ronald ‘Sate-Sate’ Kampamba of Wadi Degla in Egypt, Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Mukuka Mulenga and defender Emmanuel Mbola of Israeli club Hapoel Ra’anana were all no-shows as Zambia enter day two of training camp.

Kampamba was reportedly in the country on Monday but in his hometown Kitwe after flying in from Egypt over the weekend while Mukuka and Mbola had both failed to travel to Zambia.

“Mukuka failed to travel, he had challenges with the flight. Sate also failed to secure a flight from Kitwe and he is driving here,” Ndovi said.

“We are still waiting for Mbola, Faz are in touch with him over his release.”

All three are the only foreign-based call-ups expected for this weekend’s final round, last leg qualifying match to be played at Nkoloma Stadium In Lusaka.

Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire are locked at 0-0 from the first leg match played in Abidjan on July 18.

Winner this weekend will qualify for the 2015 tournament to be hosted by Senegal from November 28 to December 12.

The top three finishers at the second edition of the Caf Under-23 Cup will qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.