England based stars join Chipolopolo in Morocco!
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) in agreement with the Zambian government gave the Football Association of Zambia permission to allow spectators at their upcoming Qatar FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifier against Tunisia at home on September 7.
According to Soka25east.com, following successful negotiations with the Zambian Department of Health, permission was granted to allow at least 5000 spectators to attend the match at the 50 000 seater Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in the Copperbelt region of Ndola.
“We are pleased to announce that following our engagements with the Ministries within the department of health and Sport, we have been allowed to admit some spectators for the World Cup qualifier against Tunisia,” Secretary General Adrian Kashala is quoted by www.soka25east.com.
Although spectators have been barred from physically attending live sport throughout the country since the outbreak of the Corona virus, it would be the first time that spectators would be allowed in Zambia and this could be an attempt to test the waters by Zambian authorities towards opening sporting venues to spectators.
Tickets have for the match would be pre-sold through Computicket outlets and the admission of the spectators would be subject to strict observations of Covid-19 health guidelines, added Kashala.
Meanwhile Zambian coach Beston Chambeshi who took over the reins from Milutin Sredojevic who has since joined Uganda, is halfway through a 10-day preparation in Morocco with a mostly local-based squad preparing for this Friday’s opening clash against Mauritania in Nouakchott.
The squad has been bolstered by their European-based players including Enock Mwape (Brighton and Hove) and Patson Daka (Leicester City) as well as Swedish-based Edward Chilufya and Lubambo Musonda (Denmark).
“I can confirm that the said players have joined the rest of the squad in Morocco on Sunday (August 29),” revealed FAZ President Andrew Kamanga.
“We are only waiting for CAF and FIFA to secure a waiver on return to Europe, particularly England to avoid quarantine.”
At the same time, Mauritania coach Corentin Martins also unveiled his final 25-member team to face the Zambians on September 3 in the two sides’ opening game of their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B qualifier in Nouakchott.
The Frenchman has included 11 European-based players in the team that include defender Bakary Ndiaye of Polvorin in Spain who was Mauritania’s top scorer in the 2022 AFCON qualifiers on two goals.
Seven players on the list are home-based who include two debutants namely defender Rachid Said Ahmed and midfielder Mohamed Soueid both of Mauritanian champions FC Nouadhinou.
Otherwise, Martins has kept faith in his tried and tested team that had a solid test during the June friendly window losing 4-1 to AFCON champions Algeria on June 4 away in Blida.
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