NAIROBI-(MaraviPost)-The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is staring down a potential $10,000 fine from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after national team head coach Avram Grant failed to attend a mandatory pre-match press conference ahead of Zambia’s opening African Nations Championship (CHAN) clash against DR Congo.
Journalists, who had gathered at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi for the highly anticipated media briefing, were informed by CAF officials that the event had been abruptly cancelled due to the absence of the Zambian head coach.
Under CAF tournament regulations, all teams are required to present their head coaches for official press duties on the eve of matchday to promote transparency and engagement with the media.
Failure to comply attracts financial penalties, with minimum fines starting at $10,000.
While neither FAZ nor Grant has offered an explanation for the no-show, the incident has raised eyebrows, especially given the increasing importance CAF places on professionalism and accountability during international competitions.
Zambia are scheduled to face DR Congo in a high-stakes group stage match on Friday, but the build-up has now been clouded by administrative controversy that could overshadow the team’s on-field performance.
This is not the first time disciplinary measures have loomed over CHAN pre-match procedures, and CAF is reportedly expected to take swift action to maintain discipline among participating teams.
