Allegations of sexual misconduct have emerged against Bruce Mwape, the coach of Zambia's national women's team set to make its debut at the Women's World Cup. The case was referred to FIFA last year for investigation, as reported by The Guardian.
According to the British newspaper, Mwape has been accused of coercing players into having sex with him in exchange for securing their spot on the team. The report also mentioned other Zambian coaches and officials facing similar accusations, including the coach of the Under-17 girls' team.
Zambia Football Association President Andrew Kamanga confirmed that allegations of sexual misconduct were referred to FIFA and Zambian police last year, but he described it as "an old story" and did not disclose the names of those involved. FIFA, following its protocol, stated that its independent ethics committee would refrain from commenting on ongoing investigations.
While the Zambian Football Association launched its own investigation last year, it did not disclose the identities of the individuals implicated at the time. In September, when the association made the announcement, it emphasized its commitment to taking the allegations seriously. However, an anonymous source quoted by The Guardian alleged that the association was neglecting the allegations due to the recent success of the women's team under Mwape's guidance.
Despite these controversies, Zambia's women's team has achieved significant milestones, qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. In a surprising victory during a warm-up game, Zambia defeated two-time World Cup winner Germany 3-2, with captain Barbra Banda delivering a standout performance.
Barbra Banda, the team's star striker, has also faced controversy related to sex eligibility issues. She was withdrawn from the squad for the Women's African Cup of Nations last year due to a mishandled sex eligibility case. The incident sparked blame between the Zambian football association and the African soccer confederation.
Zambia is placed in Group C alongside Spain, Costa Rica, and Japan for the World Cup and will commence their campaign against Japan on July 22.