World Cup (Q): Musonda says friendship won’t count when Zambia face Tanzania

Zambia national team striker Kennedy Musonda has stated that his duty is to Zambia despite having some friends in the Tanzania team when the two sides face off in a Group E fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying at the Amani Stadium in Zanzibar on Wednesday.

Having played for Tanzania Premier League champions Young Africans, where he guided them to win several trophies including the Premier League title, Musonda was asked how it feels to come up against Yanga players in Tanzania.

Friendships will be renewed after 90 minutes

“Football has nothing to do with whether they know me or not. It is about who applies themselves the best way on the pitch on the day,” he told reporters as quoted by FAZ Media. “About friends, we can talk about that after the match.

“We are professionals and we know what we are supposed to do on the pitch. We have to be prepared mentally and be ready. The focus is on the national team.”

On whether Zambia were ready to face Tanzania, he said: “On behalf of the players we are very much aware of the task that is at hand and we are hungry to get back to winning ways. We are very much ready and very much mentally prepared for this game.”

The two sides will be aiming to keep their chances of finishing second and hope for one of the four second best placed finishers that will qualify to the play-offs.

Group winners across the nine streams automatically qualify to the FIFA World Cup while four second best placed teams proceed to the play-offs where the eventual winner will grab the tenth spot for CAF.

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