Newly Football Association of Zambia(FAZ) president Keith Mweemba’s first major challenge is determining the future of Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant, who has been accused by striker Fashion Sakala of pressuring players to sign with his agent, Nir Karin, in exchange for national team selection.

Complicating matters, Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts Elvis Nkandu revealed earlier this week on Lusaka radio that the government owes Grant approximately US$100,000 (over K2.6 million) in unpaid salary.

This financial obligation makes it difficult to terminate Grant’s contract without risking sanctions from FIFA. Moreover, there is uncertainty surrounding the terms of the contract Grant currently holds, as his initial agreement expired late last year.

Minister Nkandu, however, expressed confidence that the outstanding salary will be paid soon — a development that could potentially clear the way for Grant’s dismissal.

“We are owing close to about US$100,000; very soon we have started the process of sorting the funds,” Nkandu said.

Nkandu attributed the delay to the slashed budget as a result of the drought the country experienced.

“So you find that 80,000,000 was cut so that we can now facilitate and help those that were hungry, so that they don’t die from hunger.

“Now this is where we have issues because that 8,000,000 would have used that 8,000,000 to pay those that we are owing because we are also owing some athletes,”Nkandu said.

Meanwhile, Mweemba has not yet commented on the future of the Chipolopolo coach.

Grant was appointed as Chipolopolo coach in 2022 and his contract was reportedly renewed in December last. He has guided Zambia to back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifications after missing out three times in a row.

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