IT’S A BIG CARTEL: FAZ Vice-President Mutale Ng’andu Confirms Black Market Ticket Scandal

14.10.2025 | Football DNA ⚽️

FAZ Vice-President Mutale Ng’andu has confirmed that the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) lost over K2 million in revenue due to suspected black market ticket sales during the sold-out World Cup qualifier between Zambia and Morocco on September 8, 2025.

Speaking to journalists in Ndola yesterday, Ng’andu reportedly said that the association had projected to raise about K4 million from the match but only managed to collect K1.2 million.

He is said to have clarified that the first three individuals linked to the illegal ticket sales were initially apprehended during the Zambia versus Burundi women’s U-20 match, which was also held at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

According to Ng’andu, preliminary investigations suggested that the black market ticket racket had been operating for a long time—predating the tenure of the current FAZ executive committee, which assumed office in May 2025.

He reportedly commended the FAZ match organizing committee, which he chairs, for exposing the scam. Ng’andu further revealed that three more suspects were arrested during the recent Zambia versus Niger match for allegedly selling tickets without the association’s authorization.

However, he declined to disclose the names of the individuals arrested or those implicated in the ongoing investigation.

Sources familiar with the matter are reported to have said that the tickets circulating on the black market could be an inside job involving FAZ Secretariat staff, as well as employees from CompuTicket and ShopRite.

The case is currently under investigation by Twapia Police in Ndola, where the six suspects are said to be in custody.

Credit: Augustine Mukoka