The Zambian team, known as The Copper Queens is in danger of not participating in the Olympics following FIFA’s intervention.
The Zambian women’s football team risks not participating in this summer’s Olympic Games following an internal political crisis within the country’s football federation.
FIFA, world football’s governing body, has threatened to suspend the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) for ‘undue influence from third parties’. This emerged after the Zambian High Court blocked the FAZ’s annual general meeting, scheduled for Saturday, following the arrest of the FAZ president and general secretary, accused of money laundering.
FIFA pointed out that the disruption of the assembly appears to be clear external interference and warned that this could lead to the suspension of the FAZ, preventing its teams from competing internationally.
FAZ President Andrew Kamanga, Secretary General Reuben Kamanga and two others were arrested on money laundering charges, including obtaining funds under false pretenses and criminal conspiracy.
The Zambian women’s football team is among the 12 teams that will be present at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and qualified after defeating the 3-2 Lionesses of Morocco in the play-offs.
The Copper Queens are placed in Group B alongside high-profile teams such as the USWNT, Germany and the Australian national team.
The FAZ issued a statement on Monday, expressing hope for a solution to avoid the FIFA ban and confirming the devastating impact the ban would have on all national teams, including exclusion from all major international tournaments.
This is not the first time that FIFA has investigated the FAZ, during the Women’s World Cup, the national team’s coach following the Guardian’s investigation came under the spotlight for allegedly sexually abusing female players. Despite this, the federation did not take any action.
If FIFA maintains its position, the Zambia women would be excluded from the Olympic Games, but it is unclear which team would be replaced by which.
