Posts in category: Uncategorized

By NATION REPORTER

THE Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has pledged to be an active player in the fight against corruption in 2024 because it is a mandate of every Zambian to fight the vice.

SENEGAL have called up six Premier League players alongside Sadio Mane for the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title in Ivory Coast next month.

Nottingham Forest pair Moussa Niakhate and Cheikhou Kouyate, Fulham defender Fode Ballo-Toure, Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson have all been included by Teranga Lions coach Aliou Cisse.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Seny Dieng and Rangers forward Abdallah Sima are also in the 27-man squad.

The 2023 Afcon finals – officially branded as such even though they are being played in 2024 – begin on January 13, with the final on February 11.

Former Liverpool forward Mane, who now plays in Saudi Arabia for Al Nassr, scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out against Egypt in the 2021 Nations Cup final to clinch Senegal’s first senior continental trophy.

The 24 competing countries have until January 3 to name their final squads.

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana was named in Cameroon’s squad but Indomitable Lions coach Rigobert Song surprisingly omitted striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting after the Bayern man missed their past three outings.

“Choupo-Moting is a very good player. But my staff and I want the continuity of recent times,” Song said.

Meanwhile, Onana’s United team-mate Hannibal Mejbri asked to be left out by Tunisia, with coach Jalel Kadri saying the 20-year-old midfielder “is going through an important situation at his club”.

Hosts Ivory Coast included Brighton’s Simon Adingra, yet Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi says the winger will be out for at least four weeks with a hamstring injury.

Former Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, now at Turkish giants Galatasaray, was not included by Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset.

And Burnley striker Lyle Foster was not called up by South Africa, having only recently returned from a leave of absence because of a mental health issue.

Several players will miss the tournament because of injury, including Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure (Mali) and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi (Nigeria). – BBC.

 CINDY MANTELO

NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Saboi Imboela has expressed grave concern about Zambia’s current political situation and the direction its heading, reflecting growing worries about the political landscape.

By NATION REPORTER

THE Patriotic Front (PF) has volunteered to take up the social responsibility and clean up the Lusaka City Central Business District following reports of increasing number of deaths resulting from outbreak of cholera.

…Grant happy that the Leicester City striker is now scoring for his club

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

CHIPOLOPOLO gaffer Avram Grant has described Patson Daka as a perfect example for players not enjoying game time at their respective clubs.

Daka has enjoyed good form in the last four games where he has scored four goals to help Leicester City dominate the English Championship.

Grant said Daka’s impressive form which came after months of being sidelined is motivation for young players on the need to be disciplined and work hard.

Grant, who is drilling the Chipolopolo boys ahead of the 2023 AFCON scheduled to kick off on January 13 in Ivory Coast is confident that Daka will continue to score for his club and the national team.

“Patson Daka’s job is to score goals which he’s done so well for this team and I am happy he has now started to score for his club. He is a good example to the young players and those who are here but don’t know how to handle the bench,” he said.

“Patson is an example because he hasn’t been playing and a month ago he wasn’t even in the team. I have all the records on how he trains and when they gave him a chance, he did what he is supposed to do. I hope and I’m sure he will continue to score,” Grant said.

Meanwhile, Grant said he is not worried that Canada-based defender Aime Mabika is not part of the Chipolopolo squad preparing for AFCON.

“He has never been in the team. Until now I don’t even know how he looks like. If he would show a desire to play, he would be in the team. Now he has injuries so we can’t talk about him but as I tell you, always players have to show quality, passion and desire to play,” Grant said.

He said it should be a privilege for players to represent the country and make millions of Zambians happy on the pitch.

After regrouping for a local camp on Tuesday, Grant and his boys will fly to Saudi Arabia where they will engage in two international friendly matches on January 5 and 9.

While their first opponents in Saudi have not been confirmed, the Chipolopolo will play Cameroon on January 9 to conclude preparations for the AFCON where they will compete in Group F alongside Congo DR, Tanzania and Morocco.

By NATION REPORTER

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has appointed Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe to act as Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister after the resignation of Stanley Kakubo.

By NATION REPORTER

CHRIS Zumani Zimba says President Hakainde Hichilema should not have heaped praises on his disgraced former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kakubo for resigning from his position but should have used the opportunity to counsel and chastise him for engaging in fraudulent transactions.

…says the declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation means that the country entered into a covenant with God and should therefore not tolerate acts of homosexuality as the vice was against values and norms of the country

By NATION REPORTER

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has strongly condemned the abomination of homosexuality and has vowed that he shall not tolerate Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) practices because such iniquities have no place in Zambia.

…is there load shedding or not?

By NATION REPORTER

THE load shedding conundrum is deepening with Zesco claiming that power outages are as a result of routine maintenance while Emmanuel Mwamba, the Patriotic Front (PF) information and publicity chairman says the electricity rationing has been caused by government prioritizing power exports.

…did the Speaker jump the gun in changing opposition leadership in the House while the matter is still in court

By GRACE CHAILE

THE nine Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament purportedly expelled by expelled Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa shall maintain their seats in the House until the courts of law conclusively decide on their matters currently in the courts of law, the National Assembly has said.