Chipolopolo will have to chase six crucial points against Burundi without their talisman. Patson Daka, Lameck Banda and Gamphani Lungu have all been ruled out injured for the back-to-back Group I AFCON qualifiers – a triple blow that tests the depth of interim coach George…

Chipolopolo will have to chase six crucial points against Burundi without their talisman.

Patson Daka, Lameck Banda and Gamphani Lungu have all been ruled out injured for the back-to-back Group I AFCON qualifiers – a triple blow that tests the depth of interim coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina’s squad.

But inside the Chipolopolo camp, the message is clear: no excuses.

Team Doctor George Magwende confirmed the trio will miss both legs because their recovery goes beyond seven days.

Daka suffered a right ankle injury in Hamburg SV’s 3-1 win over Monchengladbach on 6 November.

“Ultrasound revealed he had a mild strain that will require about 7-10 days to recover,” Dr Magwende said.

Banda is out for at least two weeks with a left hamstring injury, while Lungu faces 14 to 21 days out with a right ankle sprain.

They join Kingstone Mutandwa, Ackim Mumba and Jackson Phiri on the injury list.

Lwandamina has moved swiftly, calling up Israel-based Edward Chilufya, Green Eagles’ Derrick Bulaya and Prince Mumba of Al Garaf in Iraq.

It is a chance for the replacements – and for in-form local stars like Zesco United striker Kennedy Musonda – to prove Zambia is more than one man.

The stakes could not be higher. Zambia host Burundi on Friday, 13 November at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium at 15h00, before the return in Bujumbura on 17 November.

Algeria lead Group I on four points. Zambia are second on three, level with Togo. Burundi are bottom on one.

Six points from six would put Chipolopolo in command on the road to AFCON PAMOJA 2027 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Lwandamina, in charge on an interim basis, knows momentum is everything. Without Daka, he will need others to step up – starting on Friday in Ndola.

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