Gaborone (Bostwana), Apr 19 (IANS): Botswana is set to play 2012 African champions Zambia in the first round qualifiers of the 2014 African National Championships (CHAN) football tournament.

According to a statement from the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Thursday, Botswana will host Zambia for the first leg match to be played July 27, reports Xinhua.

With Botswana not doing well in the ongoing 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifiers, the tournament remains the sole solace for the country's football team "Zebras" to keep active if they fail to qualify for the World Cup.

Zebras' coach Stanley Tshosane welcomed the news saying it will help keep his team in shape as they prepare for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The African Nations Championship (CHAN) is a biennial tournament administered by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is played by the best national teams of Africa, exclusively featuring players who are active in the national championships and qualified to play in the ongoing domestic season.

The tournament was first staged in 2009 with Cote d'Ivoire as the host and the Democratic Republic of the Congo won it.

The competition was expanded to 16 teams for the second tournament, held in Sudan in 2011. This time, Tunisia were crowned champions. South Africa plays host to next year's tournament.