Patson Daka, who has scored 22 international goals in approximately 55 to 57 senior appearances for the Chipolopolo is one of those players, who will miss the double-header against Burundi.
Zambia will host the Swallows on November 13th in Ndola at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium before travelling to Bujumbura for the return leg four days later.
According to a statement from Zambia FA, injury has knocked out Hamburg FC striker Daka, Lameck Banda (Al Swehly SC) and Gamphani Lungu (Orlando Pirates) from the back-to-back Group I qualifier against Burundi.
The injured players have been replaced by Israel-based Edward Chilufya, Derrick Bulaya (Green Eagles) and Prince Mumba (Al Garaf-Iraq).
Zambia team doctor George Magwende says the trio have been ruled out of both matches as their recovery period went beyond seven days. Magwende added the respective clubs have been liaising with the Chipolopolo medical team.
Daka suffered right ankle injury
“Patson Daka suffered a right ankle injury which he sustained during Hamburg SV's 3-1 win over Monchengladbach on 6 November. The ultrasound revealed he had a mild strain that will require about 7-10 days to recover,” said Magwende.
“Lameck Banda sustained a left hamstring muscle injury whilst on club duty and will be out for at least two weeks. We also have Gamphani Lungu who has a right ankle sprain which could take about 14-21 days.”
The Chipolopolo will also have to do without Kingstone Mutandwa, Ackim Mumba and Jackson Phiri, who were ruled out of the back-to-back assignments due to injury.
Another player set to miss the Burundi date is Power Dynamos midfielder Owen Tembo, who has accumulated two yellow cards in Zambia’s previous qualifiers against Algeria and Togo, triggering an automatic one-match suspension.
Tembo will, however, be available for the return fixture away in Burundi after serving his suspension in Friday’s home encounter.
Algeria tops Group I with four points with Zambia lying second on three points while Togo is third with as many points.
Burundi lies bottom with a point after two rounds of matches. The AFCON PAMOJA 2027 which will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will run from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
The three host nations - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda - have already qualified automatically for the 2027 AFCON.
In groups featuring a host nation, only the highest-placed team excluding the host will qualify from the group, while the top two finishers in the remaining groups will progress to the finals.
The qualifying campaign will conclude with Matchdays five and six in March 2027, when the remaining places at Africa’s flagship football tournament will be confirmed.
