Midfielder Owen Tembo will miss the first match of Zambia’s back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group I qualifiers against Burundi due to suspension.
The Power Dynamos midfielder has accumulated two Yellow Cards in the last two qualifiers against Algeria and Togo. He will be available for the second match away in Burundi.
According to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, Article 42 (Chapter 17 – Sanctions of Players), 42.1. For the qualifying phase and the final tournament, a player who receives two cautions shall be automatically suspended from playing the following match. This automatic suspension shall be communicated by the Secretariat to the Associations concerned.
42.2 The cautions received during the matches qualifying phase shall not be taken into account for the matches of the final tournament. At the end of the first phase of the final tournament (group matches), all cautions received shall be cancelled for the rest of the competition. Nevertheless, a player having collected two yellow cards will sustain the one match suspension.
With Tembo out and Klings Kangwa also missing the home encounter, Miguel Chaiwa and Joseph Liteta are expected to be joined by either Wilson Chisala or Obino Chisala in midfield should George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina decide to go with a three man midfield.
Zambia will host Burundi at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on 13 November before travelling to Bujumbura for the return fixture on 17 November.
The Chipolopolo Boys currently sit second in Group I with three points from two matches, one point behind leaders Algeria. Togo are also on three points, while Burundi occupy the bottom spot with one point.
The two matches present Zambia with an opportunity to strengthen their position in the qualification race and boost their hopes of securing a place at the 2027 AFCON finals.
The tournament, branded AFCON PAMOJA 2027, will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
