Leicester City Hold on to Patson Daka at Least Until After Friday’s Fixture

Leicester City Hold on to Patson Daka at Least Until After Friday’s Fixture

Chipolopolo Boys striker Patson Daka will have to wait until after Leicester City’s Friday Championship clash with Cardiff City before joining the national team camp for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast.

Daka, once considered dispensable for this international window, has become a key player for Enzo Maresca’s Foxes. Since his debut in week 20, he has scored four goals and provided two assists in his five full Championship appearances. Prior to that, he had only managed a single minute across Leicester’s opening 19 league games. Injuries to Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Thomas Cannon opened the door for Daka, and he has seized the opportunity.

Despite Daka’s importance to Leicester City, he is equally crucial to Zambia’s national team. With 30 players already in camp in Lusaka preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Daka’s addition is eagerly anticipated. The team is set to depart for Saudi Arabia on January 1st, and Daka, along with Saudi-based Fashion Sakala, will join the squad directly in Saudi Arabia after their respective league matches on Friday.