Zambian football is in mourning after seven players from Chavuma Town Council FC were killed in a bus crash.

The country’s football association (Faz) expressed its “deep shock” at the accident, which occurred on Saturday while the squad was travelling to a third-tier league game in the north west of the country.

“We are in touch with the football, civil and law enforcement authorities in the province to furnish us with full details,” Faz president Andrew Kamanga said.

Twelve other people were injured in the accident, and five of those have been evacuated to the capital Lusaka for treatment.

The names of those killed and injured have not been released.

Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe said he and the governing body “hope and pray” that those injured will fully recover soon.

“I convey my personal and Caf’s deepest condolences,” Motsepe added in a statement.

“May God comfort and console the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased and the Football Association of Zambia.

“May the souls of the departed players rest in eternal peace.”

Artur de Almeida e Silva, the president of the council of Southern Africa’s regional FAs, said the loss of young lives in such a manner was “truly heartbreaking”.

“Football is a sport that unites us, bringing joy and pride to communities across our region,” he said in a letter to his counterpart at Faz.

“In this tragic moment, we share in your grief and offer our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends who are mourning this immense loss.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are still receiving treatment for their injuries.”

-BBC

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe has condoled with the Zambian football family following a road accident in Zambia that claimed the lives of seven players from Chavuma Town Council Football Club.

Motsepe remarked that he was deeply saddened by the tragic news. The CAF President conveyed his and CAF’s deepest condolences to the families of the seven players, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President Andrew Kamanga and the Zambian people.

Dr Motsepe said: “It is with profound sadness that I learned of the tragic road accident that claimed the lives and severely injured members of the Chavuma Town Council Football Club who were on their way to a North Western Province Division One League match.  

“I convey my personal and CAF’s deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased and the Football Association of Zambia. We hope and pray that those who were injured will fully recover soon. May God comfort and console the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased and the Football Association of  Zambia.”

May the souls of the departed players rest in eternal peace.

Former Olympique de Marseille midfielder Abdelaziz Barrada has died at the age of 35, the club said on Thursday, with the Moroccan Federation (FRMF) describing his death as a “great tragedy”.

No official cause of death has been announced for the France-born player who earned 26 caps for Morocco and was part of the side that reached the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations final in 2011.

“The club would like to offer its sincerest condolences to his family and share their grief,” Marseille, where Barrada spent two years, wrote on X.

Barrada also played for Spanish side Getafe and had stints in Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates before retiring in 2021. He also played for Paris St Germain’s reserve side.

“Paris St Germain extends its sincerest condolences to his family and friends,” PSG wrote on X.

-Reuters