The Football Association says it is still negotiating with Namibia to play an international friendly on 9th September, a day after that country play in a 2022 Qatar world cup qualifier against Eritrea.

Earlier, the association announced after calling off an international friendly against South Africa following the eruption of Xenophobia, that it would play Namibia on a Monday.

But Namibia’s football calendar reveals that the brave warriors have a 2022 Qatar qualifying match against Eritrea on 8th September, a day before the announced international friendly.

Namibia played the first leg against Eritrea on Wednesday 4th September. The brave warriors are scheduled to played again Eritrea on 8th September in a return leg of the 2022 Qatar world cup preliminary round..

According to FIFA rules and regulations, a football team can only play soccer in a space of not less than 48 hours. This implies that Namibia cannot play on 9th September against the Chipolopolo boys.

When queried regarding the development, FAZ acknowledged that they were aware that the Namibia national team was playing in the qualifiers.

Association Public relations manager Mwazi Chanda however said FAZ is still negotiating with their Namibia counterparts to find a way of playing the match on the said date or later.

“The friendly is still being negotiated, FAZ will advise,” she told Goal Diggers.

Meanwhile Namibia has invited Chipolopolo to play in the Hage Geingob tournament on November 9th and not September 9th. Namibia has since offered to pay for air tickets, accommodation, food and all other transport logistics for 30 individuals during the tournament in November. Chipolopolo thus seem to have not opponents for this international break.