By MICHAEL MIYOBA
GOVERNMENT remains committed to ensuring that Zambia or the CAF envoys do not play their home games outside the country, says Sports, Youth and Arts Minister Elvis Nkandu.
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It is alleged that the Chipolopolo boys may play the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to kick off in two months’ time away from home because the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola and National Heroes in Lusaka do not appear on the list of approved stadiums to host World Cup qualifiers.
Zambia are in Group E of the qualifiers, where they will compete against the 2022 World Cup semi–finalist Morocco, neighbours Tanzania, Congo-Brazzaville, Eritrea, and Niger.
Meanwhile, CAF envoys Power Dynamos and Muza FC will have to look for alternative match venues if they progress to the Group Stages of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup because Heroes Stadium and Levy Mwanawasa Stadium are allegedly not fit to host international matches.
However, Nkandu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rehabilitate the two venues which he believes still have what it takes to host international games.
Nkandu said Government is set to publish tenders for the refurbishment of the National Heroes and the Levy Mwanawasa stadiums.
He said Government will first approve the renovations of Heroes Stadium which needs a new turf before allowing works at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Nkandu said government had worked on Heroes Stadium before the Chipolopolo versus Barcelona legends in may this year and what is remaining is just to replace the turf which may not be in good shape.
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