The Zambian Government has officially suspended financial support to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) senior men’s national team following what it has described as continued “underperformance” in recent international fixtures.
In a joint statement released by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts together with the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ), authorities expressed disappointment that the team has continued to struggle despite receiving substantial financial backing from public funds.
NSCZ Director and CEO Sombwa Musunsa revealed that government has been footing critical expenses for the national team including accommodation, air tickets, winning bonuses and part of the head coach’s salary despite ongoing national budget constraints.
“The support has come at a considerable cost to the taxpayer, and it is imperative that we seek justification for its continuation, especially in the absence of satisfactory results on the pitch,” Musunsa stated.
According to Musunsa, FAZ has been instructed to provide a detailed explanation of its recovery plan, including measures to improve performance, restore consistency and ensure long-term competitiveness.
He further stressed that government will closely assess the job performance of head coach Avram Grant, as part of efforts to establish whether continued public funding is warranted.
