The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has announced that the friendly match between the Chipolopolo of Zambia and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa has been cancelled.

Lusaka Times reported that in a statement made available to the media, FAZ said the match has been scheduled to the next FIFA Window and that the Zambia National Soccer team will instead play Namibia on September 9, 2019 in Windhoek.

In an interview with Metro FM/Radio 2000, FAZ President Andrew Kamanga confirmed the match was called off due to xenophobic attacks that have been going on in South Africa.

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

Earlier in the day, South Africa media reported that Bafana Bafana’s friendly against Zambia could be called off this weekend due to xenophobic attacks.

According to SABC Sport’s journalist Thabiso Mosia, the encounter could be hanging in the balance due to the xenophobic attacks that have affected Johannesburg, where protesters and looters have targeted foreigners in different parts of Johannesburg over the past few days.

According to Mosia, the attacks had put pressure on Zambia Football Association ahead of Saturday’s match and that SAFA was currently trying to find a replacement opponent for this weekend if the match does not take place.