#XenophobiaInSouthAfrica: Zambia cancels football friendly with South Africa

The Zambia Football Association (ZFA) has cancelled an international friendly game against Bafana Bafana of South Africa that would have taken place at the Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday.

The cancellation came on the heels of the recent xenophobic attack going on in the country.

The national team feared that the game could lead to further diplomatic attacks if the game is allowed to be played.

Andrew Kamanga, president of FAZ confirmed the cancellation on Robert Marawa’s Sport Worldworld.

“The game is off, and we communicated that to SAFA and they understood. We have been talking to try and monitor the situation,” Kamanga says on the show.

The president of @FAZFootball Andrew Kamanga has confirmed here on #MSW with @robertmarawa that they have decided to cancel their friendly match that was scheduled for Saturday against @BafanaBafana due to xenophobic attacks taking place currently in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/aGKnNYZGGs

— Marawa Sport Worldwide (@MarawaSportShow) September 3, 2019

Five people were reportedly killed and property destroyed in an attack in South Africa that targeted foreign nationals especially Nigerians.

The latest attack has seen some of the strongest reactions to xenophobia in South Africa. Nigeria pulled out of the ongoing World Economic Forum meeting for Africa that is taking place in Cape Town, South Africa in protest.

Nigerian entertainers such as Tiwa Savage and Basketmouth has also cancelled their appearances for shows taking place in South Africa.

Burna Boy has vowed never to set foot again in South Africa unless the country’s government takes some drastic actions to stop the hate.

Meanwhile, there have been reports that businesses belong to South Africans have been attacked by angry mobs. One such attack in Lekki Phase led to the death of at least one person. Nigerians are also calling for the boycott of South African owned businesses.