The Chipolopolo will play in Lusaka next month. ZamFoot reported on Thursday 29 October that the Confederation of African Football has granted the National Heroes Stadium temporary Category 3 approval to host international matches in November, in a communication dated 28 October that followed a CAF technical assessment mission at the ground from 19 to 22 October.
Two fixtures move as a result. Zambia's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi on 13 November, which had been set for the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, will now be played at Heroes, and the under-23 side's 2028 Olympic Games qualifier against Burkina Faso will follow at the same ground on 15 November.
We are pleased that CAF has granted National Heroes Stadium temporary Category 3 approval for November.
— Charles Chakatazya, FAZ General Secretary, to FAZ Media, as reported by ZamFoot on Thursday 29 October
Chakatazya said the assessment confirmed that the stadium met the key requirements for hosting CAF and FIFA matches, thanked the government for the works at the stadium, which he said CAF had acknowledged, and thanked supporters for their patience while the approval was pursued. He urged fans to turn out in numbers for both matches.
Temporary, and conditional
The approval is for November only. ZamFoot reports that CAF raised outstanding concerns that must be addressed before a further assessment, without listing them, and that more work is needed to meet the confederation's requirements in full. A longer approval would depend on that next inspection.
The decision brings a home international back to the capital; the Burundi match had been scheduled for Ndola. It comes in a week in which FAZ also said it had bought wireless communication systems, headsets and chargers for match officials in the Super League and National Division One, to be used from Week Six of the league, with Chakatazya saying the purchase fulfilled a promise by FAZ president Keith Mweemba: "The President promised, and he has delivered." For a government that has spent on the ground, the Burundi match is the first test of the facility.
Sources: ZamFoot, “CAF grants National Heroes Stadium temporary approval for November matches” (29 Oct 2026); ZamFoot, “FAZ equips referees with communication systems ahead of Super League Week Six” (27 Oct 2026).