Kamanga was arrested last week along with FAZ general secretary Reuben Kamanga and two other individuals - Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame - on charges including "obtaining money by false pretense (sic)" and "conspiracy to defraud".

Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) said the four acted together to obtain money from the government which was "purportedly allocated as allowances for Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame to attend the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)" despite the pair not holding official or executive positions with the FAZ as claimed. The suspects were released on bond ahead of court appearances.

The charges, which all four men deny, were noted by FIFA with its Chief Member Associations Officer Kenny Jean-Marie writing a letter requesting "copies of any documents received in relation to the accusations and ongoing investigation".

Jean-Marie also expressed FIFA's "great concern" at an injunction from Zambia's High Court to stop last weekend's scheduled FAZ Annual General Meeting (AGM). He wrote the order "appears to clearly amount to undue influence by third parties which could be considered as a violation of Article 19 paragraph 1 of the FIFA Statutes" and mentioned suspension as a possible punishment. Similar interference led to the suspension of India's football federation two years ago with the country stripped of its right to host the U-17 Women's World Cup.

The letter, which was reproduced on FAZ's official 'X' feed, said "FAZ is directed to conduct its Annual General Meeting". The court injunction was upheld and the AGM did not take place as planned.

Were FAZ to be suspended, Zambia's teams would be barred from international competition. The women's national team made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 where the 'Copper Queens' were Africa's sole representatives. They reached a first Women's World Cup last year and Barbra Banda's penalty in extra time against Morocco earlier this month secured them a return to the Olympics in Paris.