Angry over Chipolopolo’s disastrous outings, govt suspends funding to Football Association of Zambia

Government has suspended financial support to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) with immediate effect following the senior men’s national football team’s continued poor performance, including the recent defeat to Niger.

The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts has also demanded that FAZ provide a detailed justification for why government funding should continue.

In a joint statement, the Ministry and the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) expressed concern over the team’s underperformance despite substantial financial backing from the state.

NSCZ Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sombwa Musunsa, said that despite prevailing financial constraints, government had continued to allocate significant resources to the national team and its technical bench.

“The continued support has come at a considerable cost to the taxpayer, making it imperative for the Council to seek clear justification for its continuation, especially in the absence of satisfactory results on the pitch,” Musunsa said.

He said the resources covered accommodation, air tickets, winning bonuses, and part of the head coach’s salary, among other expenses.

Musunsa emphasised that transparency and accountability in the use of public funds remained paramount.

“In this regard, the Ministry has engaged FAZ to provide a detailed explanation on the measures being taken to address the team’s poor performance and ensure the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of football in Zambia,” he said.

He added that steps would be taken to monitor the head coach’s performance in line with his contractual obligations and determine whether government support should remain suspended or terminated given the team’s poor results.

Musunsa noted that football remained a cornerstone of Zambia’s sporting and cultural identity, with the power to unite communities, promote national pride, and inspire young people.

“This is why government has remained committed to supporting the game through various interventions. However, we must ensure that public investment yields meaningful outcomes and drives real progress in football, like in any other sport,” he said.

He disclosed that government’s financial commitments to FAZ include outstanding salary arrears for both the men’s and women’s national team coaches, as well as unpaid winning bonuses, allowances, and other obligations.

Musunsa assured that government remained committed to settling all arrears incurred to date.

“Following the guidance of the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, the Ministry has discontinued support to the Football Association of Zambia, particularly the senior men’s national football team, until a clear roadmap is provided on the restoration of Zambian men’s football,” he said.

Musunsa also cautioned other sports associations affiliated with the NSCZ to learn from the Chipolopolo’s current challenges and uphold high performance standards.

He warned that the Council would not hesitate to suspend funding to associations whose athletes and teams continue to perform poorly in major competitions despite receiving government support.

“Following the suspension of funding to the senior men’s national team, we have formally engaged the Association to provide a detailed response to the concerns raised no later than October 20, 2025, to enable government to make an informed decision on the way forward,” Musunsa said.

He further revealed that to promote excellence, the NSCZ will soon introduce a National Association Performance Criteria to guide future funding allocations.

“The new criteria will focus on adherence to key success factors for national and international sporting achievement, including the hiring of qualified coaches and the establishment of credible athlete selection and development programmes,” Musunsa said.

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