This archive report was first published on 4 September 2019.
On September 4, 2019, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) made the decision to call off a friendly soccer international against South Africa, scheduled to take place in Lusaka on Saturday.
The cancellation came in the wake of violent riots in Johannesburg and Pretoria, which left at least five people dead and resulted in the arrest of over 80 individuals.
According to a statement released by the FAZ, the decision to cancel the match was based on 'prevailing security concerns in South Africa.'
The unrest, which spread to surrounding townships, saw roving groups attacking and looting mainly foreign-owned shops, raising fears of a recurrence of the violence aimed at foreigners in 2015, which resulted in the deaths of at least seven people.
The Zambia-South Africa match will be rescheduled to take place during the October window for internationals.
The South African Football Association is currently seeking alternative opponents, with local media reporting that they are in talks with Madagascar to host a fixture in Johannesburg.
