Ivory Coast fans are questioning the creditials of head coach Emerse Fae following the team’s 1-0 defeat to Zambia on Friday. This was the reigning African Champions’ second successive defeat after another 1-0 loss to Sierra Leone on match day 4. Fae, who guided the Elephants to AFC0N triumph has come under scrutiny after Friday’s results. The African Champions have collected 9 points and lost twice in this campaign. Fans took to social media to express their displeasure on the team’s performance. “Seems like the team can only win at home,” said one fan. Some have gone further to suggest that the fans should boycot Tuesday’s final group match against Chad at home.
Copper Queens duo of skipper Barbra Banda and striker Grace Chanda will kick off their National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship defense with Orlando Pride in March. This follows the release of the NWSL Championship 2025 regular season schedule. Pride will start the season by hosting the Washington Spirit in the Challenge Cup Final on Friday, March 7, at Inter&Co Stadium. BELOW IS A FULL STATEMENT FROM ORLANDO PRIDE ON THE NEW SEASON ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan 22, 2025) — The Orlando Pride has announced its 2025 regular season schedule, presented by Orlando Health. The Pride will look to defend the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship through the 2025 season, hosting 13 of their 26 matches from the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium as well as the Challenge Cup Final. Season Ticket Memberships for the 2025 season are currently on sale, with STMs receiving a number of benefits, including a 2025 Orlando Pride replica jersey, tickets to the 2025 Challenge Cup Final, a 20% discount on food and beverage at Inter&Co Stadium and a 15% discount on merchandise. More information on seating options and benefits is available here. The Pride have also announced the Orlando Pride Two-Match Pack which includes a ticket to the Challenge Cup Final and the Pride’s home opening match for just $25. For more information for that is available here. Fans can sign up for single match pre-sale access by registering at the link here. The Pride will open the 2025 season hosting the Washington Spirit in the Challenge Cup Final on Friday, March 7, at Inter&Co Stadium. The regular season campaign will kick off the following week on Friday, March 14, as the Pride welcome the Chicago Stars to Inter&Co Stadium in what will serve as a rematch from the first round of the 2024 NWSL Playoffs. The regular season opener, presented by Orlando Health, will kick off at 8 p.m. ET. Prior to the start of that match, the Pride will hold a banner-raising ceremony for the 2024 NWSL Championship. Orlando will play every NWSL team once at home and once on the road, while also having back-to-back home matches on four separate occasions across the season. The Pride’s first road game of the 2025 season will be a trip to Sports Illustrated Stadium to take on NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday, March 23. The Pride will match up against the Kansas City Current on May 16 at Inter&Co Stadium, before returning to CPKC Stadium for the return leg against the Current on Aug. 16. The two sides met three times last season with the finale being in the semifinals of the 2024 NWSL Playoffs. The Pride came out on top in that match and then would go on and win the 2024 NWSL Championship, which was hosted at CPKC Stadium. The complete 2025 schedule can be found below. New this season, NWSL Rivalry Weekend, set for August 8-10, will see the league’s most exciting matchups in action, including the league’s oldest series in the storied Cascadia Rivalry between Portland Thorns FC and Seattle Reign FC. Other contests throughout the weekend include the SoCal Rivalry between Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC, an East Coast battle between two of the league’s veteran clubs in Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit and the Pride facing off against Racing Louisville. The regular season concludes with the return of NWSL Decision Day, featuring all 14 clubs in action on Sunday, November 2 as teams battle for a spot in the 2025 NWSL Playoffs presented by Google Pixel. ESPN will televise two Decision Day matches while the remaining five contests will be available on NWSL+. The opening round of the postseason begins the weekend of November 7-9. ESPN/ABC will air two quarterfinal matches, while CBS/Paramount+ and Prime Video will each distribute one of the remaining two quarterfinal contests. The semifinals, set for the weekend of November 14-16, will air across CBS/Paramount+ and ESPN/ABC, with each partner carrying one contest. For the fourth-straight year, the 2025 NWSL Championship presented by Google Pixel, will air in primetime on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+. 2025 Orlando Pride Schedule, Presented by Orlando Health
| By Nkweto Tembwe | It was the night before the big game, and sleep did not come easy. My sister and guardian, Dorothy Mulenga Tembwe, had reluctantly given her blessing after relentless negotiation, laced with her usual lament, “Nkweto, mwe baume mwashala batatu after imfwa ya ba Kangwa.” (Nkweto, remember there are only 3 .men in the family after we lost Ba Kanvwa 3 years ago) I was in Grade 11 at Matero Boys Secondary School, living with her “ku ma yards” in Northmead. Permission came with a mountain of conditions, the chief among them being that I had to go with an older relative. Luckily, my elder brother, Gideon Katongo Tembwe, arrived from Kitwe, declaring he’d spend the night so we could head to town early. That night, I lay in bed, heart pounding with anticipation, dreaming of watching my heroes, the KK Eleven, battle Zaire for a chance at the FIFA World Cup. The Journey Begins The alarm sounded at 03:25, and I jumped out of bed. The house at No. 2 Malila Close buzzed with excitement. By 04:00, we were ready, though how many of us actually bathed was debatable. Teeth brushed with Ivory toothpaste, we set off on foot toward Great East Road, I was laughing at every silly comment the elders made. My brother Chewe joked about announcing the probable lineup on a makeshift public address system, and we roared with laughter. We boarded a Rosa minibus, license fleet mumber LK 007. The bus was packed with football enthusiasts, the air thick with anticipation. At Kafue Roundabout, the driver kicked off a few non-football passengers and refunded their fare after realising the bus was, but full of Independence stadium bound passengers. By the time we reached Independence Stadium, the atmosphere was electric. The Chaos Outside At 04:45, the queues outside the stadium were already serpentine, snaking toward the Great North Road. Fires burned in small clusters, and pickpockets darted through the shadows. I clutched my ticket money tightly, weaving through the chaos. By 10:00, murmurs rippled through the crowd: “Ba FAZ bafika!” Ticket sales had begun. I found myself separated from my family group, alone in a sea of humanity. Poor and short me now had to fight on my own. My schoolmate, Elijah Zulu, appeared like an angel, advising me to try Gate A. There, the scene was pure bedlam. Police on horse backs, dust clouds, and desperate fans created a cacophony of chaos. I followed the Matero kids who barged through the queue, I timed their confusion very well and was a beneficiary. As the line formed again, suddenly, I was near the entrance to gate-A . At 14:20, I was inside. The Stage is Set The stadium was a roaring colossus, with over 40,000 fans crammed in. I found a spot right at the foot of the terraces. The noise ebbed and swelled, a wave of anxious energy. The presidential motorcade arrived in a flurry of dust, and the voice of Dennis Liwewe, the legendary commentator, thundered through the PA system: “A very good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Independence Stadium, the venue for this second-round, first-leg FIFA 1990 World Cup qualifier between Zaire and th3 KK Eleven of Zambia! He announced : The referee from Mauritius,Mr Patrice Nyo. Then came the lineups. For Zaire: In Goal: Meriikana As Mr. Dennis Liwewe went through the Zaire lineup, Zambians were only truly interested in two names. The tension in the air was palpable as they held their breath, waiting. When the names were finally mentioned, the crowd sighed with a mixture of excitement and worry…. Yes, Santos Mutubile was in the lineup, and yes, the dreaded Eugene Kabongo Ngoyi would feature also. While Zambians were still grappling with how to feel about these two dangerous players, Dennis Liwewe startled them out of their thoughts with his booming voice. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the KK11!” he announced. The stadium erupted into a deafening roar. Fans leaned closer to mentally tick off the lineup, desperate to confirm their heroes were indeed in the starting eleven. “In goal, from Mighty Mufulira Wanderers…” Liwewe started, and the crowd finished in unison: “Efford Chabala!” “Playing two, from Nkana Red Devils, hard tackler John Soko!” “Wearing shirt number three, from Kabwe Warriors and Zambia… Whitson Changwe!” “Playing position four, from Mighty Mufulira Wanderers and captain of the side ” Liwewe said, pausing slightly as he said Ashious Melu. the crowd shouted back, “Meluuuuuu!” At this point, the crowd was buzzing, eager to hear who would play in position five. There had been calls for a change in personnel for that role. Fans had already chosen their favorite, and now they waited to see if the technical bench had endorsed their candidate. “Playing position number five…” Liwewe said, deliberately pausing to heighten the already intense tension and anxiety in the stadium. Then he broke the silence: “For reasons best known to themselves, they call him King Yellowman…” The crowd erupted with wild cheers, and Liwewe continued, “… from Green Buffaloes and Zambia, Eston Mulenga!”Mulenga….. The roar that followed could have been mistaken for a goal celebration. Liwewe let the crowd revel in the moment before continuing with the lineup. “And playing six, from Division One side Profund Warriors, Derby Makinka!” “Playing seven, a professional from Belgium, Mwana Wa Kwitu… Lucky Msiska!” “Wearing shirt number fourteen but playing 8, a player ee have not seen for two seasons, from Belgium’s Anderlecht… Charles Musonda!” “Playing nine, again from Belgium… Mkango, Stone Nyirenda!” “And playing ten, from Power Dynamos…” At this point, the stadium shouted as one, “Weeeez….Wisdom Chansa!” Finally, Liwewe delivered the name everyone was waiting for: ” then reigning African Footballer of the Year, who he described as , “perhaps the most intelligent player on the field… Kalusha Bwalya!” The crowd echoed, “Bwalya!” Lusha.. Lusha.. It was a lineup that inspired hope, pride, and belief. Zambia’s KK11 was ready for battle, and the stadium was alive with anticipation. The Match Zambia emerged in all yellow; Zaire in green. The game began at a frenetic pace. Zaire’s confidence was evident—they had beaten Tunisia in Kinshasa—but Zambia’s resolve was unmatched. In the 10th minute, Stone Nyirenda struck. The crowd erupted, chanting “Zambia! Zambia!” Seven minutes later, a Kalusha Bwalya corner found Lucky Msiska, who headed in Zambia’s second. At 25 minutes, Derby Makinka unleashed a thunderbolt: 3–0. Zaire fought back. In the 29th minute, Eugene Kabongo Ngoyi, the dreaded danger man, scored, briefly silencing the crowd. Halftime: Zambia 3, Zaire 1. The second half was a battle of wills. In the 75th minute, Kalusha Bwalya scored Zambia’s fourth. The stadium shook with chants of “Lusha Lusha!” But Zaire was not done. In the 78th minute, Kabongo struck again with a ferocious volley:grazing off the hair of some of our players 4–2. At this time I found myself standing akimbo and wishing for the game to end already…..that goal sent shivers in all Zambian as the Zairean supporters briefly took over that chanting! The final ten minutes were nerve-wracking as Zaire bombarded Zambia’s defense. But Ashious Melu, Eston Mulenga,Whitson Changwe and John Soko held firm. When Mauritiun referee Patrice Nyoe, blew the final whistle, the stadium erupted in a euphoric roar of relief. The Aftermath As I trudged toward Mandevu, the chants of “Zambia 4, Zaire 2!” echoed in my ears. I couldn’t wait to recount the drama to my classmates at Matero Boys. That day, the KK Eleven etched their names into history, and I knew I had witnessed something unforgettable.
Former FAZ General Secretary, Adrian Kashala has officially announced his candidature for the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) top job. Kashala will challenge incumbent Andrew Kamanga for the presidency of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). Kashala believes it’s time for change and he feels his long-standing experience in football administration speaks for itself. “We are counting down to the day the football family unites to usher in new office bearers who will govern the affairs of the sport we all love so deeply. I am Adrian Kashala, and I have announced my candidacy for the presidency of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). I believe my long-standing experience in football administration speaks for itself,” Kashala said. “My desire to serve football and elevate the game stems from a deep conviction that we can do better. Football lovers across the country have long yearned for more, and the time has come to fulfill their aspirations. My extensive experience in sports management, particularly football, drives my commitment to lead and serve.” Kashala has preached unity ahead of the elections saying, this is not about divisions or factions; it is about building one united football family. “Together with my team, we will embrace everyone—including those who may have disagreed with us or criticized us in the past. It is time to turn a new page for Zambian football. This is not about divisions or factions; it is about building one united football family,” Kashala said. “We aim to create an environment that welcomes divergent views because that is what football is all about. Once the election period is over, we must come together and move forward as one, for the greater good of our football. I am ready to lead this transformation. My belief is firm: football in Zambia will never be the same after March 2025.Let us make this dream a reality.” The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Electoral Committee recently unveiled the roadmap for the 2025 elective annual general meeting to be held on March 29. Nominations will open on February 1, 2025 with FIFA having approved the roadmap. The final announcement of validated nominations for elections will be done on February 17, 2025 after which candidates who would not have been successful will have the right to appeal from February 17-18. The Appeals Committee will communicate its final decision on February 22, 2025 and officially open the campaign window. Provincial elections will commence on March 15 while the elective AGM will be held on March 29. Under the revised and FIFA aligned FAZ constitution, provincial elections precede the main election.
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