• CHIPOLOPOLO striker Emmanuel Mayuka being stretched off the pitch after sustaining an injury during Zambia’s 2-1 defeat by Tunisia in the ongoing 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Picture courtesy of GETTY IMAGES

From FELIX MALUNGA –

in Ebebiyin
STRIKER Emmanuel Mayuka is a major doubt for Zambia’s must win match against Cape Verde on Monday as the Chipolopolo’s injury list continued to grow here at the Equatorial Guinea 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
Mayuka joins midfielder Nathan Sinkala whose AFCON journey ended on the opening day after picking up a knee injury in the match against DR Congo.
As Mayuka is racing against time to be fit for Monday encounter, Sinkala is seeking to be released from the squad for him to recuperate from home.
Chipolopolo team doctor, Joseph Kabungo said Mayuka, who scored a goal in Zambia’s 1-2 defeat to Tunisia, suffered a groin injury in the 70th minute and that he was now a major doubt for the final Group B fixture.
Kabungo said Mayuka was rushed to a local hospital where he was assessed and given medication.
He said the Southampton striker was still in pain but that the Chipolopolo medical team was closely monitoring him and would advise on whether he would be ready or not for the Cape Verde tie.
“Mayuka is doubt for Monday’s game. He suffered a groin injury on the right side and was given medication at the hospital and of course we assessed him here. He was in pain last night and this morning (yesterday) he was equally in pain.
But we are taking it easy on him. We are trying to monitor him and we will be able to give an official position on whether he will be available or not for Monday’s game in the next 24 to 48 hours,” he said.
Kabungo said during a press briefing that Mayuka’s injury was serious and it was sometimes difficult to predict.
“But of course when you talk of a groin injury sometimes it’s difficult to predict which side it will go. But as I have said now he is on treatment and we hope that he will able to wither that storm and be ready to play,” he said.
He said striker Evans Kangwa, who limped off with a pulled muscle, was looking better yesterday, same with goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene who had a blow to his head during the Tunisia match.
Kabungo declared a clean health bill on the rest of the players in camp.
Meanwhile, Janza is saddened with Mayuka’s injury and hoped the England-based forward would recover in time for the Cape Verde assault.
Janza said he would find cover if Mayuka would not be ready for Monday’s game.
Zambia is bottom of Group B on one point to trail leaders Tunisia by three points while DR Congo and Cape Verde are on two points each.