The Zambian national soccer team has secured an international friendly against South Korea to be played in Seoul on Wednesday 15th August.
Speaking in Lusaka, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) vice-president Boniface Mwamelo said that the association and the Korea Football Association (KFA) had reached the decision after
lengthy discussions.
Mwamelo said the match against South Korea will help the African champions prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers to be played in September.
“We have crucial games lined up in September. Our team will play Africa Cup qualifiers and it is important that we prepare adequately. South Korea is one of the strongest teams in Asia and they are currently ranked 35th in the world, so we feel that they will give our African champions a good preparatory match which can help the technical bench assess the players,” he said.
Earlier in the year FAZ General Secretary George Kasengele was quoted by the Times of Zambia that the Chipolopolo would face South Korea and China in international friendlies in August and November respectively, subject to confirmation.
FAZ has also indicated that Zambia's aim in South Africa next year was to defend its maiden Africa Cup of Nations won in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon on February 12. To achieve that, Zambia will play one international friendly per month beginning with a friendly against Malawi on July 6 in Blantyre.
The Chipolopolo are also expected to face Bafana Bafana in the Mandela Challenge in November.