Following the mutual separation with Avram Grant, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) may engage a local coach to guide the Chipolopolo Boys at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in December, BolaNews has established.

The association had been paying former head coach Avram Grant $25,000 per month, making him one of the lowest-paid coaches at the previous AFCON.

With FAZ president Keith Mweemba having revealed earlier this year that the association’s coffers are nearly empty, hiring a high-profile expatriate coach could prove challenging. As a result, there is now a proposal to appoint a local coach on an interim basis before launching a full search for a permanent replacement.

Mweemba disclosed that his newly elected executive, which assumed office on May 9, 2025, inherited a financially strained organization weighed down by unpaid obligations — including allowances, accommodation fees, and other liabilities — amounting to over ZMW 100 million.

“Let me be transparent: the coffers are dry. We are working on dismantling a huge debt,” Mweemba said.

Due to the financial constraints, FAZ is expected to rely on government support — which was suspended earlier this month — to help foot part of the new coach’s salary should they opt to hire another expatriate.

However, BolaNews understands that a final decision on who will take charge of the Chipolopolo Boys ahead of AFCON is expected to be announced before the team’s friendly match against South Africa on November 14.

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