Potential Benefit for Leicester as Patson Daka Faces Africa Cup of Nations Setback
Potential Benefit for Leicester as Patson Daka Faces Africa Cup of Nations Setback
The provided text discusses Patson Daka’s performance in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and his subsequent return to Leicester City. Here’s a summary:
AFCON Performance: Daka, a forward for Leicester City and Zambia, played in every age-group version of AFCON. Despite Zambia’s group-stage exit, he scored one goal and assisted another in the tournament. Zambia’s elimination was attributed to a young and inexperienced squad.
Contributions in AFCON: Daka’s quick thinking led to a goal against DR Congo, and his late header salvaged a point against Tanzania. Despite the team’s exit, Daka displayed leadership and a positive attitude.
View from Zambia: Zambian football journalist Calvin Kaumba Chikenge believes Daka can return to Leicester with pride. He praises Daka’s performance and attributes Zambia’s elimination to the team’s overall lack of experience.
Club Situation: Before AFCON, Daka had limited game time at Leicester. However, head coach Avram Grant expressed confidence in Daka’s professionalism and goal-scoring ability, praising him as an example for young players.
Return to Leicester: Daka’s club manager, Enzo Maresca, kept in contact with Grant during AFCON. Maresca is optimistic about Daka’s return, emphasizing his recent good form in the Championship and expressing regret for Zambia’s exit but excitement for Leicester.
Competition at Leicester: Daka faces competition at Leicester, with Tom Cannon stepping up in his absence and Jamie Vardy returning from injury. Despite this, Maresca believes Daka will play a significant role in Leicester’s promotion challenge.
Iheanacho’s Situation: Kelechi Iheanacho, another Leicester player, is still involved in AFCON but has not featured for Nigeria. There are reports of a thigh injury and potential issues with manager Jose Peseiro.
In summary, the text provides insights into Daka’s performance in AFCON, the positive outlook on his return to Leicester, and the competitive situation at the club.
