Brighton's Mwepu Hospitalised Whilst on International Duty

Brighton and Hove Albion’s Zambia international Enock Mwepu has returned to England for medical tests after falling unwell after travelling to Mali with the national side.

Mwepu was hospitalised for four days, not completing a single training session after arriving in the West Africa country.

"Enoch got ill as soon as he got into the country," Wesley Ngongo, Zambia's team doctor, said on social media. 

"When we got here, we assessed and felt he needed to go to the hospital. We took him to hospital and due to the severity of the condition, he was admitted for further tests and further evaluation.

"He was discharged from hospital [on Sunday] - however he needs further treatment and evaluation as quickly as possible so he's been allowed to travel back to the United Kingdom."

The 24 year-old has returned to the UK and to Brighton. However, fellow Premier League star Patson Daka has also fallen ill. The Leicester City striker is currently not in hospital although he was briefly treated in hospital in Bamako.

There has been no word on whether either player will be able to play in the Premier League which returns this weekend. Brighton travel to Liverpool whilst Leicester host Nottingham Forest on Monday.

Zambia are also looking for a new coach after Aljosa Asanovic, appointed in January, left his role on the eve of the Mali matches in a row over non-payment of his salary, an allegation which Zambia's FA denies.

Mwepu has made six appearances so far this season, having joined the club from RB Salzburg in the summer of 2021.

Image: Bernard Chama via Unsplash