Zimbabwe cancels soccer friendly with Zambia

LUSAKA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe has canceled a friendly soccer match with Zambia after the world soccer governing body refused to grant it international friendly status, Zambia's soccer governing body said on Tuesday.

Desmond Katongo, the spokesperson of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) said the planned friendly match has been canceled after the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZFA) indicated that it was unable to host the match after FIFA informed them that it was not going to be accorded international friendly status.

Zambia hoped to take the match as part of preparations for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

However, the spokesperson said preparations for the tournament, which runs from January 12 to February 14 in Morocco, will continue.

Zambia is in Group B alongside Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia and Uganda for the CHAN, a tournament only for players plying their trade in their native countries. Enditem