By Bola Yapa Zed Sports Desk | 4th December 2025

FAZ Spent US$277,222 to Terminate Avram Grant Contract, AGM Reveals

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has confirmed that it spent US$277,222.99, equivalent to approximately K6.3 million, to terminate the contract of former Chipolopolo head coach Avram Grant. The disclosure was made during the reconvened FAZ Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lusaka on Wednesday.

FAZ Head of Finance, Owen Buntele, clarified that the payout was fully funded under the FIFA Forward programme, which supports national associations with financial resources to enhance football development. The settlement formally closed the chapter on Grant’s tenure as Zambia’s senior national team coach.

During his presentation, Buntele also revealed that FAZ generated a total of US$870,000 (about K20 million) in revenues after qualifying for multiple international tournaments this year. These include US$500,000 from AFCON, US$200,000 from CHAN, US$100,000 from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), US$50,000 from the U-20 AFCON, and US$20,000 from the U-17 AFCON. The financial inflow highlights Zambia’s continued presence across continental competitions.

However, despite the revenue, FAZ’s expenditure for the period exceeded K32 million, driven largely by national team activities and international engagements. Key spending areas included the U-17 boys’ and girls’ World Cup campaigns, Chipolopolo’s participation in the CHAN tournament, the COSAFA Senior Women’s Championship, salaries for the senior women’s team, and procurement of kits for all categories of national teams.

The financial report underscores FAZ’s ongoing challenge of balancing revenue from international qualification with heavy investment in national team programmes. The association emphasised that the expenditures were necessary to maintain Zambia’s competitiveness across age-group and senior tournaments.