FAZ Told to Engage CAF Over Controversial Confederation Cup Decision

Former Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) spokesperson Eric Mwanza has urged the country’s football leadership to actively engage the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following a controversial change to Zambia’s continental qualification criteria.

Earlier this week, the Zambian Premier League (ZPL) confirmed that winners of the ABSA Cup will secure Zambia’s slot in the CAF Confederation Cup for the 2026–27 season.

The move marks a significant departure from previous regulations, where the MTN Super League runners-up claimed the Confederation Cup berth. Under the new framework, cup success will take precedence. Should one club win both the MTN Super League and the ABSA Cup in the 2025/26 campaign, the ABSA Cup runners-up will represent Zambia in the Confederation Cup.

Mwanza: “Regulations are not carved in stone”

The decision has ignited debate across Zambian football circles, with Mwanza insisting that CAF’s rules, while firm, allow room for negotiation and exceptions.

In remarks shared on a WhatsApp group, Mwanza said:

> “Yes, CAF may have issued a directive — but CAF regulations, while firm, are not inflexible. Their competition rules are not carved in stone. They include:
• Discretionary powers for the Secretary General
• Competitions Committee override authority
• Case-by-case exceptions for ‘exceptional circumstances’.”



He argued that associations capable of robust advocacy often secure favourable outcomes.

> “Associations that know how to advocate for themselves get exceptions, clarifications, and temporary dispensations all the time. Zambia is not asking for anything unprecedented.”



Mwanza questioned whether FAZ had formally engaged CAF to seek clarity or an exemption, particularly given the timing of the directive.

> “FAZ can secure an exception for the coming season. The real question is: Has the Secretary General written to his counterpart in Cairo? Because the justification is solid — our league is mid-season, and the Absa Cup is by no means a ‘national’, ‘league’, or ‘FA’ Cup under CAF’s own definitions.”



He further stressed that such matters require proactive diplomacy rather than routine correspondence.

> “And this is not a matter of writing a letter and waiting. You pick up the phone. You make your case with:
• The Director of Competitions
• The Inter-Clubs Manager
• The CAF Secretary General
And yes, the CAF President is reachable too.



> CAF has granted exceptions to national associations on matters far more serious and complex than selecting inter-club representatives. There is absolutely room for Zambia to obtain one — if FAZ actively pursues it.”



Clubs express concern

The mid-season adjustment has also drawn criticism from club executives.

Power Dynamos F.C. Chief Executive Officer Gibson Chaloba described the decision as a shock, telling the Zambia Daily Mail that clubs should have been informed of qualification criteria at the beginning of the season.

Similarly, Mufulira Wanderers F.C. CEO Mumba Mwila argued that the change disadvantages clubs outside the top seven, who may have approached the campaign differently had they known continental qualification would hinge on cup performance.

The controversy now places FAZ and the ZPL under increasing scrutiny, with stakeholders questioning governance processes and communication standards in the administration of the domestic game.

As Zambia navigates the evolving landscape of CAF compliance and domestic competition structures, the coming weeks could prove decisive — not only in determining the country’s continental representatives, but also in testing the federation’s ability to assert its case on the African football stage.