Mbesuma, Mulenga recalled

Reports suggest veteran striker’s Collins Mbesuma and Jacob Mulenga have been recalled by Zambia coach George Lwandamina for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup Group E qualifier away to Kenya.

The duo were discarded by ex-Zambia coach Honour Janza late last year in a radical shake-up of the team that included the axing of 2012 Africa Cup-winning captain Christopher Katongo.

Mbesuma, of South Africa PSL club Mpumalanga Black Aces, returns for the first time since September 2014 in Zambia’s 2-1 away loss to Cape Verde in a 2015 Africa Cup qualifier.

Mulenga, of Chinese club Shijiazhuang Yongchang, is expected to end a
ten-month absence since playing in the Niger doubleheader last October of the 2015 Africa Cup qualifiers.

The striker has been in fine form in China where he has scored nine goals from 23 matches played for the fifth placed club.

Meanwhile Lwandamina, who did not want to give anything away, said all the veterans were still in his plans but must merit their selection.

“These guys are Zambians and when they are performing wherever they are, they will be called,” Lwnadamina said.

“Who am I to deny them that opportunity if they can add value to the team? Unless they are not doing fine, then automatically, we cannot call them because every Zambian wants positive results.”

Zambia, Kenya, Congo-Brazzaville and Guinea Bissau are tied on one point each heading into match day two of the qualifiers on September 6.

Chipolopolo kicked off the qualifiers with a scoreless home draw against Guinea Bissau. Mtnfootball.