Chipolopolo Boys head coach Aljosa Asanovic will only join the team later owing to a VISA glitch.
Asanovic and his European assistants are yet to join the team owing to visa challenges, The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has confirmed.
The Chipolopolo Boys arrived in Durban yesterday ahead of Tuesday’s 2022 COSAFA Hollywoodbets quarterfinal against Botswana.
“Following the arrival of the Chipolopolo in Durban ahead of tomorrow’s 2022 Cosafa Hollywoodbets quarterfinal against Botswana, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) wishes to notify the football family that the team has settled well and ready for the match.
FAZ also wishes to inform the public that Head Coach Aljosa Asanovic and his European assistants are yet to join the team owing to visa challenges and are expected to join the team soon.”
FAZ General Secretary, Adrian Kashala says they have engaged the tournament organizers as well as the South African immigration and local authorities to expedite the process.
“The head coach will join the team as soon as the visa issue is sorted out. We have engaged the tournament organizers as well as the South African immigration and our local authorities to expedite the process,” Kashala told FAZ media.
“We are hopeful that the process should be completed in a couple of hours. There should be no panic as the technical bench is well organized and everything is flowing normally.”
The match between Zambia and Botswana is a repeat of the 2019 final, also played in Durban, that Chipolopolo won 1-0 to claim their fifth title.
Zambia is eying their sixth title to join neighbors Zimbabwe as the teams with the most titles in the regional showpiece.
Zambia last won the tournament back in 2019 under Green Eagles boss Aggrey Chiyangi with Lazarus Kambole, Bruce Musakanya, Sebastian Mwange, Austin Muwowo, and Tapson Kaseba as the key players.
The five-time Cosafa Cup champions also have an eye on the July 24 African Nations Championship (CHAN) first leg tie away to Mozambique.
