CAF: Zambian stadium fit for Africa Cup qualifier

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has declared a Zambian stadium fit to host the country's 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Group C qualifier game against Comoros Islands next week, the Post of Zambia reported on Thursday.

Zambia has shifted the game to Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, the capital, from Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe district on the Copperbelt province, which had been hosting international games since the closing of the country's main stadium - the Independence Stadium which was under rehabilitation.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications officer, Erick Mwanza said that Sue Destombes from CAF inspected the facility on Tuesday and certified it fit to host the match.

He said the national team will camp next week and that the team's training will be held under closed doors.

Zambia national soccer coach Dario Bonnet, who was recently engaged, has called 20 foreign-based players for the match, as he begins his assignment as national soccer coach. The new coach says he wanted to make history by being the first coach to win the Africa Cup of Nations.

Zambia has been to Africa's soccer showpiece on 14 occasions but has never won the tournament. The only time the southern African nation came close to winning the title was in 1974 and 1994 when it reached the finals. In 1974, Zambia lost 2-0 to Zaire (now DR Congo) while in 1994, the team lost to Nigeria 2-1.

The other teams in Group C are Mozambique and Libya.

Source:Xinhua