Chipolopolo Face Botswana In AFCON Qualifiers

The Zambian national team are set to take on Botswana later today in the AFCON qualifiers. 

Chipolopolo will face Botswana at 1800 hours today at National Heroes Stadium in Zambia. The second leg will follow on November 16 at 1800 hours at Francistown Stadium in Botswana. 

Today’s match will take place behind closed doors. It will be coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s competitive debut. The team has undertaken six friendly international matches this year in preparation, playing Malawi and Ethiopia twice, as well as Kenya and South Africa. The teams only defeat was against Kenya last month when they lost 2-1. 

Nine foreign based players have been summoned for the assignment. These include Micho Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Enock ‘Computer’ Mwepu, Fashion Sakala (Ostende), Lubambo Musonda (Slask Wroclaw), Kings Kangwa (Arsenal Tula), Gamphani Lungu (SuperSport), Justin Shomga (TTM), Augustine Mulenga, Sesbsatian Mwange  (Maritzburg FC), and Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe).  

The stakes for the match are high. Zambia currently sits at the bottom of Group H on zero points after two matches, while Botswana has a point earned against Zimbabwe’s Warriors who have four points. Algeria tops the group with six points. 

No fans will be allowed in the stadium after CAF denied FAZ their request to allow a limited number of fans to attend. The game will be live on ZNBC television.