FIFA issues another warning against interference in Zambia FA polls

Photo Credit - Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).

FIFA has issued a fresh warning to Zambia sports against interfering in the forthcoming Zambia Football Association (FAZ) elections, saying only incumbent FA president Andrew Kamanga is authorized to chair the proceedings on election day.

The world football governing body is following up on its earlier warning that Zambia risked being banned from international football following the country’s sports council’s stance that it does not recognize the Kamanga-led FAZ executive committee.

In the latest warning, FIFA Chief Member Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, has reminded the Zambia National Council of Sports (ZNCS) that FAZ should be allowed to hold the elective annual general meeting without interference.

Warning letter from FIFA.

“For avoidance of doubt, all Elective Regional General Meetings, scheduled between 15 and 27 March 2025, must be chaired by their respective Regional Chairpersons. Additionally, the FAZ Annual General Meeting must be chaired by the President of FAZ, Mr Andrew Kamanga, and be attended by the FAZ Executive Committee, in accordance with the FAZ Statutes and regulations,” Mammadov wrote on March 13, 2025.

In his earlier letter dated March 5, 2025, he warned that “any breach of this obligation may lead to sanctions provided for in the FIFA statutes. As a result, should the transitional committee be indeed established, FAZ would be at risk of breaching the above-mentioned statutory provisions.

"Should this happen, FIFA will have no option but to submit the matter to its relevant decision-making body for consideration and decision, which might also include the suspension of FAZ."

The world football governing body’s stance followed a letter ZNCS wrote to FIFA proposing establishing a transitional committee, an independent electoral committee, FIFA engagement, and a comprehensive review of the electoral process.

NSCZ penned FIFA ahead of the FAZ elective annual general meeting scheduled for March 29, 2025. The build-up to the elections has been marred by controversy after the FAZ electoral body disqualified presidential candidates leaving incumbent Andrew Kamanga as the sole contestant only to make a U-turn.

Kamanga has had a turbulent time as he lost his election bid for FIFA Council post for English-speaking African countries earlier this week.