TWENTY-FOUR hours after Zambia was ejected from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), soccer fans yesterday shockingly went into wild celebrations following a hoax that the Chipolopolo have been reinstated into the competition.

In Lusaka, the fans, who were crestfallen after Zambia's early AFCON elimination, went into wild celebration with some cars honking in the central business district in what FAZ vice-president Boniface Mwamelo described as "just a cruel joke."

In the late afternoon, a rumour mill churned out one last stunt for Zambia at the 2013 AFCON, alleging that Burkina Faso has been ejected after they used goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye who was red carded in the previous game against Ethiopia.

However, the fact was that Abdoulaye was not used against Zambia but instead the Stallions fielded Daouda Diakite in their 0-0 stalemate.

Times offices in Ndola and reporters' mobile phones were clogged with several inquiries about the rumour but FAZ spokesperson Erick Mwanza posted on twitter that the rumour was fake and that most Zambian players had gone back to their clubs.