A Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) spokesperson, Joseph Nkole, said coach Patrick Phiri had decided to omit Mbesuma from his squad after it was established that the bulky striker did not meet the required fitness levels.
Mbesuma becomes the third high-profiled player to be ruled out of the Zambian team after Germany-based duo Andrew Sinkala and Moses Sichone were sidelined from the team after being certified unfit to play.
Nkole said Mbesuma was also left out of the team that traveled to Morocco for a friendly against the Atlas Lions. He said, however, that Zambia still had players to represent the country well in Ghana.
“Zambia has a lot of players and we shall soon find a replacement for Mbesuma,” Nkole said.
The former Roan United, Portsmouth and Maritimo hit-man joined the team in Tunisia on Sunday and played in the friendly against the North Africans later in day, but his performance was not satisfactory.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mike Poto, defenders Davies Nkausu and Elijah Tana, yesterday joined the national team in Paris, France.
Team manager, Solly Pandor, confirmed in a telephone interview from Paris yesterday that the trio joined the Chipolopolo at the airport.
“We met them [the three players] at the airport when we were coming from Tunisia. We are happy and morale is high in camp,” Pandor said.
