Fashion Sakala has revealed that he hid his knee injury from the teams’ medical staff during Zambia’s 3-1 loss to Nigeria at the U23 AfCON finals on Monday.

The winger who has been ruled out for the rest of the competition says he could not leave the pitch after only two minutes of play, and so decided to play on for 80 more minutes.

Sakala sustained a knee injury after a collusion with compatriot Patson Daka in the second minute of the game but played on until the later stages of the game when he was substituted.

“I did not expect what happened, you know how it was for me and Patson. I really wanted to go out immediately after the incident happened but after I checked the time on the big screen, it was like two minutes and I said to myself, I cannot go out in two minutes, I will continue fighting,” Sakala said.

Sakala revealed that even after the team took the lead early in the game, he decided to play on without informing the medical staff of his condition.

“And then after we scored I wanted to go out, I wanted to talk to the medical stuff but I said no, let us score another goal first. And then they scored and I said then I cannot go out, we need to take the lead again. Even at half time I kept it to myself and did not tell the medical staff but I wanted to go out”

Following the game, team Doctor Mwila Lupasha confirmed Sakala’s knee injury and revealed that the winger had played his last game in the tournament.

“Fashion sustained a knee injury during the Nigeria game. He will not be able to continue with the tournament as (he) needs to undergo further examination,” he said.

After picking up one point from their two games so far, the young Chipolopolo need a huge win against Ivory Coast in their final group game and other results to go in their favour if they are to procceed in the tournament.