THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)has assured the nation that the Chipolopolo boys and all participating teams in the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) are safe.
This follows repeated inquiries on the safety of the Zambia National Football Team in Cameroon ahead of the CHAN Cameroon 2020.
In a media statement issued by FAZ communication manager Sydney Mungala, association president Andrew Kamanga, who is part of the organizing committee of the CHAN says some security concerns were raised and an assessment sought by the participating teams from Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“CAF safety and security department can confirm to you that we have received all necessary safety and security guarantees from the government of Cameroon, and we are satisfied with it
There are, however, some security concerns which we are very much aware of and they exist in both the Southern and Northern part of Cameroon,” Kamanga said.
Kamanga said the CAF risk assessment has classified Cameroon at level four risk which is substantial but neither severe nor critical.
He said CAF has further recommended several safety measures by the teams to ensure that they do not deliberately place themselves in harm’s way.
Zambia is in Group D and based in Limbe which is in Southern Cameroon which is embroiled in a long-standing political conflict.
Group D has Guinea, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia. The opening game in Limbe is on January 19, 2021 which will see Zambia face Tanzania while Guinea will battle it out with Namibia.
