The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) have called off a scheduled international friendly with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana over a current unrest in the Rainbow nation caused by attacks of foreign nationals in that country, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.
The friendly was scheduled to be played in Lusaka on Saturday.
The cancellation is coming on the heels of xenophobic attack going on in the country.
FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala made the announcement in a statement saying that the decision was arrived at in consultation with the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Kashala said Zambia will instead play Namibia on September 9, 2019 in Windhoek.
“FAZ has instead opted to play Namibia on Monday in order to ensure that the Chipolopolo does not miss out on playing competitive football during the FIFA window,” he stated.
“Our game with South Africa has been pushed to the next FIFA window.
Andrew Kamanga, president of FAZ confirmed the cancellation on Robert Marawa’s Sport World show.
“The game is off, and we communicated that to SAFA and they understood. We have been talking to try and monitor the situation,” Kamanga said on the show and quoted by sportsvillagesquare.
Report says the Zambian national team feared that the game could lead to further diplomatic attacks if it is allowed to be played.
Zambia was scheduled to play South Africa on Saturday at National Heroes Stadium in an international friendly match.
South African police arrested more than 80 people and confirmed five deaths as violence intensified on Tuesday, spreading to surrounding townships with roving groups attacking and looting mainly foreign-owned shops, according to Reuters.
It is expected that the Zambia-South Africa match will be rescheduled to be played during the October window for internationals.
There are indication that the South African Football Association are trying to find alternative opponents, with local media reporting that they are in talks with Madagascar to host a fixture in Johannesburg.
Chipolopolo coach Aggrey Chiyangi has summoned nine foreign based players for the international friendly match.
The Chipolopolo is expected to leave for Namibia on Saturday.
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