Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter said the return leg of the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier against Zambia in Lusaka on Saturday will be mission impossible.

Bafana squandered a 2-0 lead to draw with Chipolopolo in the first leg at the Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday.

Baxter hinted that he will lose up to eight of his squad members in the next camp as more clubs are due to withdraw their players to prepare for the new Premier Soccer League season, as happened in the build-up to Saturday's game.

"Tercious [Malepe] can't play because he has a red card and Sbu [Kumalo] can't play because he's got an injury.

"Its going to be mission impossible again, as it was mission impossible here today [on Saturday]," he said.

Gift Motupa and Mario Booysen netted in each half only for the visitors to claw their way back into the game.

"I couldn't see a way back for Zambia because they weren't creating chances," said Baxter.

"I'm then thinking shall I change or shall I lock up, then Tercious got himself sent away so I can't lock, I've got to go 4-4-1. To rearrange and readjust the 10 men in the last minutes, you're getting bombarded."

Despite the result, the coach praised Motupa and the youngsters in the squad who included Wiseman Meyiwa, who replaced Kumalo after the Mamelodi Sundowns defender got injured.

"I think the lads did well and they should get a pat on the back for that and they should lick their wounds and sharpen their swords then go to Zambia and get a result."

Meanwhile, Zambia coach Wedson Nyirenda warned that they would be cautious in the return leg in Ndola because "Bafana will also come like we did here today [on Saturday], so we need some goals at home and that's it".

Bafana will continue with preparations in Johannesburg today and depart for Zambia on Thursday.