February 20 – Andrew Kamanga has been re-elected for a four-year term as president of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) after running unopposed.
The FAZ Electoral Committee said that the association’s former general secretary, Adrian Kashala, and a host of other candidates were not eligible to run, as they didn’t meet the requirements of the FAZ constitution, as dictated by article 33. It left the field open to the incumbent, who will serve a third term until 2029.
Kamanga came to power in 2016, ousting Kalusha Bwalya. The Zambian official is not without controversy, though. Last year Kamanga was arrested and charged with money-laundering offences but was later released.
Arrest and an undemocratic election have not harmed Kamanga’s ambitions in the game. Last month the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) pledged to back the Zambian for a seat on the FIFA Council, the highest decision-making body in world football. Under Gianni Infantino, however, the Council has largely been reduced to a rubber-stamping entity.
In a statement COSAFA said: “FIFA’s Review Committee has declared Mr Kamanga eligible to stand for the elections, which will be held at CAF’s Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo on 12 March 2025.”
“Mr Kamanga is hoping to win one of the five seats available to CAF members on the FIFA Council.”
“The COSAFA membership recognises the achievements of Mr Kamanga in Zambia, within the Southern African Zone and at CAF and FIFA levels, and is in no doubt as to the strength and quality of his candidacy for the FIFA Council.”
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