Lusaka (Zambia), Aug 12 (IANS): The head of Zambia football has expressed displeasure over the postponement of his team's match with Zimbabwe which was to take place Sunday.

The two Southern African neighbours were supposed to have clashed in a match of the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) first leg at Rufaro Stadium in Harare but the game was rescheduled to next Sunday after match officials failed to arrive on time due to flight complications, reports Xinhua.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya described the postponement of the game as costly.

"It is a great inconvenience and it will be costly on us but it was not ZIFA's (Zimbabwe Football Association) fault. The referees had a challenge connecting from Namibia," he was quoted as saying. He said the team was geared for the game as adequate preparations were made and expressed disappointment over the situation.

The Cameroonian referee missed his flight on Saturday and Sunday, forcing the two soccer bodies to postpone the game to next Sunday after consulting match commissioner Xolani Gwesela of South Africa.

The Zimbabwean soccer federation had initially proposed that the game be played on Monday but their Zambian counterparts refused because the national team is supposed to play a friendly game against Senegal on Wednesday in France.