CHIPOLOPOLO WARNED AHEAD OF AFCON 2025

By Kazembe Chibale and Sonny Banda

Government has expressed concern over the growing tendency among national team players to prioritize payments over performance during international matches.

Speaking during the National Football Indaba in Lusaka, Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, MP, said there is an emerging habit of players focusing more on allowances than playing for the national badge.

He revealed that during two recent qualifiers, some players attempted to boycott matches and training sessions over outstanding payments. He noted that, ironically, even after being paid, the team still ended up losing matches — a situation he described as unacceptable.

The Minister has since directed the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to take decisive action by considering the exclusion of players who bring negative energy into the national team setup.

Meanwhile, FAZ President Keith Mweemba has issued a stern warning to the Chipolopolo ahead of the 2025 AFCON tournament scheduled for next month in Morocco. Delivering his remarks at the Indaba, Mweemba said:
“We are preparing for AFCON now. We want to see players who are disciplined and willing to play for the badge.”

He further cautioned that players whose primary motivation is allowances rather than honouring the nation will not be tolerated.
“If they are going there for allowances and not the tournament, as president of FAZ, together with my executive, I’m very sorry — it doesn’t matter how popular you are in your community or in the country, we will not allow such players in the squad.”