FAZ president Andrew Kamanga says Chipolopolo’s final 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B qualifier against Cameroon next month will not be a formality.

Second placed Zambia hosts 3rd positioned Cameroon in a dead-rubber Group B qualifier on November 11.

But Kamanga said the onus is on the team to beat Cameroon to send a statement of how far the rebuilding programme had gone under Wedson Nyirenda during his first year in charge despite last weekend’s 1-0 away Group B loss away to Nigeria that ended Zambia’s 2018 hopes.

“For me the game is not about the prestige of finishing second but we have to remain competitive like we showed against Nigeria,” Kamanga said.

“Number two; it is a great opportunity for the young players to showcase their abilities again against another high profile team. It is a great opportunity to show how far we have come over the last one year with our rebuilding programme. It short, it is a must-win.”

Kamanga urged all stakeholders and fans to support the Zambia National team as it wraps-up its Group B obligations.

Zambia has 7 points, one ahead of Cameroon who beat visitors Algeria 2-0 in their Group B match on October 7.

Meanwhile, Zambia has not beaten Cameroon since 1997 when they defeated The Indomitable Lions 4-3 on penalties in a 3-3 draw at the LG Cup in South Korea.

However, Chipolopolo trace their last official competitive victory over the African champions to the preliminary Group B match at the 1990 AFCON that Chipolopolo won 1-0 on their way to finishing third in Algeria.

Since then Zambia have collected two draws and three defeats against Cameroon.

Zambia held Cameroon to a 1-1 draw in their last meeting on match-day-two of the 2018 Group B qualifiers away in Limbe.