World football governing body FIFA has instructed the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to reconvene its Elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) within the next 21 days, following the disruption caused by a court injunction that halted the original meeting scheduled for March 29, 2025.
FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga confirmed the directive in a statement issued by the association’s Communications Manager, Sydney Mungala. The statement followed official correspondence from FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov.
FIFA’s intervention comes after the postponed AGM sparked uncertainty and growing tensions within Zambian football circles. According to FIFA, the reconvened AGM should be held without further delay, in line with Article 21, paragraph 3 of the FAZ constitution.
“As for your request for guidance in this situation, please note that we are of the opinion that the Annual Elective General Meeting (AGM) must be immediately reconvened to take place in 21 days,” Mammadov stated in the correspondence.
FIFA also issued a strong warning against seeking further recourse in ordinary civil courts, reiterating the governing body’s longstanding position that football matters must be handled within the structures of the sport’s legal framework.
The court injunction that stopped the March 29 AGM was seen as a serious violation of this principle, prompting FIFA to express concern over interference in football governance. Such interference, FIFA warned, could attract further scrutiny or even sanctions if not promptly addressed.
FIFA’s directive aims to restore normalcy and ensure that the governance of football in Zambia proceeds in accordance with both FAZ statutes and FIFA’s global governance standards.
The reconvened AGM is expected to include elections for key FAZ executive positions, and will be closely watched by local and international football observers, especially given the current atmosphere of heightened political and legal tension within Zambian football.
FAZ is now tasked with mobilising its members, delegates, and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the reconvened AGM meets all legal, procedural, and statutory requirements, while steering clear of actions that may trigger further intervention from FIFA.
With the clock ticking, Zambia’s football leadership faces a critical test in balancing compliance, transparency, and unity within the sport’s local ecosystem.