Government Lifts FAZ Funding Suspension After Roadmap Submission

09.03.2026 | Football DNA

The Zambian government has lifted the suspension of funding to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) for the senior men’s national team after the association submitted a roadmap outlining how it plans to improve the team’s performance.

The funding had been suspended by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts in October 2025 following concerns over the poor performance of the senior men’s national team. Government officials had requested FAZ to provide detailed plans on how the association intended to address the challenges and improve results.

According to Ministry Principal Public Relations Officer Bobby Ncimunya Ngandu, FAZ was given a short ultimatum of about one to two weeks to respond and submit a clear roadmap for the team’s progress.

After reviewing the submission, the government decided to lift the suspension and resume funding, particularly as the team prepares for upcoming competitions including the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, the government clarified that its financial support to FAZ remains limited to the senior men’s and women’s national teams under the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties. Developmental teams will not receive government funding under the current arrangement.

Meanwhile, competitions organized by FAZ, such as the Four Nations Men’s Tournament, will remain the responsibility of the association unless government assistance is specifically requested.

The decision to restore funding is expected to provide a boost to preparations for the national team as it looks to improve its performances on the continental stage.