Flames captain Joseph Kamwendo will be out of action for two weeks following an injury he picked against Algeria last Wednesday in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Kamwendo was taken off stage in the first half after stretching his muscles.
“I have been advised to rest for two weeks which means I should bounce back early next month and I am optimistic that I will be fit for the Mali encounter,” said Kamwendo from DR Congo.
Striker Atusaye Nyondo also suffered an injury during the game and did not feature for his South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side University of Pretoria in the 3-0 defeat at the hands of his former club Super Sport
United on Saturday.
Flames assistant coach Jack Chamangwana yesterday said attributed the injuries to the long trip to Algiers that took the Flames about 18 hours.
“It was not easy for the players to play a crucial game on Sunday then travel the following day [Sunday] for 18 hours.
“By the time we arrived in Algiers, they were not in sound physical condition; hence the injuries, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that they should recovered in time for the Mali game,” said Chamangwana.
Apart from Kamwendo and Nyondo, defenders James Sangala and Lucky Malata are also nursing injuries that kept them out of both games against Algeria.
Both Sangala and Malata yesterday claimed they had made tremendous progress and are confident of being available for selection against Mali.
“I am getting on well and by the time we play Mali I am confident that I will be fit,” said Malata who is also the Flames’ first vice- captain.
Already, key midfielder-cum- striker John Banda is out of the rest of the campaign having been ruled out for a further six weeks due to a recurring ankle injury.
