Zambian Sports Minister Gabriel Namulambe appealed Sunday to FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CFA) to heed Zambia's cry and postpone the 2010 Africa/World Cup qualifier against Togo scheduled for next week, according to The Post.
The Group 11 encounter between Zambia and Togo falls within the 21-day mourning period of President Levy Mwanawasa who died at Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France on August 19.
Namulambe said CAF and FIFA should show a human face and pick an appropriate alternative date for the match initially scheduled for September 6 at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe of Zambia.
President Mwanawasa's burial is tentatively setfor September 3. "I believe the people at CAF and FIFA are human beings," Namulambe said. "FIFA and CAF are patient enough to listen to our cry."
Namulambe said the Zambian government would meet the Football Association of Zambia Monday over the issue.
"The focus for now is to wait until we have received their (FAZ) response but we should come together," he said.
On Saturday, FAZ general secretary George Kasengele said the association would still engage the government Monday over the way forward with the Togo game.
Kasengele said no final decision had been made as to whether the game would be played on September 6 until thorough discussions had been completed with the government. Zambia are second in Group 11 on four points after three games played level with leaders Swaziland while Togo are on three points from two matches played.
(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2008)