Zambia will play Zimbabwe in an international friendly during this Christmas period.

According to the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), the friendly will be played in Harare to commorate Zimbabwe president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association advises the nation that it has in organized a celebratory international friendly match between the senior men’s teams of Zimbabwe and Zambia to mark the historic assumption of office by His Excellency comrade Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” ZIFA said in a statement.

“The friendly match between the sister’s nations will be played on the 23rd of December 2017 at National Sports Stadium in Harare.”

Wedson Nyirenda will field his home-based team that he will be taking to the 2018 CHAN tournament that Morocco will host from January 13 to February 4.

Zimbabwe did not qualify from the 2018 CHAN.

This will be Zambia and Zimbabwe’s third meeting this year.

The two sides drew 0-0 in a friendly at the same venue on March 26.

Zimbabwe later beat Zambia 3-1 on July 9 in the 2017 COSAFA Cup final played in Rustenburg, South Africa.