Mabika may feature for Chipolopolo in AFCON fixtures, as Zambia sorts out nationality issues

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says it is still waiting for government to finalise the naturalisation process for the Zambian born defender Aime Mabika, who was born from Congolese parents.

This is despite government having confirmed that United States-based Chipolopolo defender Mabika has been cleared with a Zambian passport and was available for the back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against Lesotho.

On March 6, Sports Youth and Arts Minister Elvis Nkandu said the government through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security had cleared and issued Mabika with a Zambian Passport.

Nkandu said the finalisation of the naturalisation process of the United States-based defender could now make him available to play for the national team including the two uninterrupted AFCON Group H fixtures Lesotho scheduled for this month.

“We have since communicated to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) via a phone call about the collection of Amie Mabika’s Zambian Passport tomorrow, Tuesday March 7, 2023,” Nkandu said.

However, a week after the confirmation, FAZ President Andrew Kamanga said the association was still waiting on the government to finalise Mabika’s issue.

“We are also keeping our fingers crossed as government finalises the naturalisation process of USA-based Aime Mabika. It has been a long wait.

“Hopefully, government through the Ministry of Home Affairs and their counterparts at Sports and Foreign Affairs can wind down the process before the back-to-back matches,” Kamanga said in an interview on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the 27-member local Chipolopolo squad has regrouped for the crucial back-to-back clashes against Lesotho slated for March 23 and 26 respectively.

Kamanga confirmed that foreign-based players would only be available next week when the FIFA window opens.

“We cannot over emphasise the importance of the back-to-back fixtures against Lesotho that will be crucial in our AFCON qualification campaign,” Kamanga said.

“We will be hoping that the Copperbelt fans seize this moment of hosting the Chipolopolo in Ndola to give the team a strong push.

“Levy Mwanawasa Stadium previously served as the home of the Chipolopolo and can easily reclaim that spot with positive energy from the stands during the March 23 match against the Likuena,” he said.

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