LUSAKA — Zambia have suffered a blow ahead of Sundays’ 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier away to Zimbabwe following the injury of key midfielder Mukuka Mulenga.
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Mulenga sustained an ankle injury on Saturday during Zambia’s 2-0 qualifying win over Botswana at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, following a crunching tackle on him by Tshepo Motlhabankwe in the 82nd minute of the game.
Zambia team doctor Joseph Kabungo said the Power Dynamos midfielder will be out of action for three weeks. “He has a tear in one of the ligaments of his ankle. He will be out for the next two to three weeks,” he said.
Kabungo added that the 20-year-old’s injured right ankle has been placed in a plaster to stabilise it and ease the pain the player is currently enduring.
Mulenga’s injury is a big blow to Zambia coach Hervé Renard’s plans as the midfielder had been influential in the middle of the park, particularly during the country’s triumphant 2013 Cosafa Castle Senior Challenge Cup campaign in July.
Mulenga will not only miss this weekend’s trip to Rufaro Stadium in Harare, but also Zambia’s international friendly against Senegal in Paris on August 14. He is also a doubt for Zambia’s Chan return leg qualifying decider against Zimbabwe on August 24 in Ndola.
Renard has reiterated the importance of his team qualifying for the 2014 Chan finals in South Africa. Chipolopolo beat Botswana 2-0 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in a first round qualifier on Saturday to advance 3-1 on aggregate to the final qualifying round.
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Renard said he was hoping to see Zambia qualify, especially after failing to reach the 2011 edition following their bronze medal win at the inaugural tournament held in Ivory Coast in 2009.
“This is the last chance to qualify for the Chan, but we cannot miss it,” Renard said. “I remember I had a chance to play the Chan in 2009 with Zambia. We did extremely well, we reached third.”
Zambia failed to qualify for the 2011 edition after they were eliminated by South Africa in the final qualifying stage.
