Most members of the Zambia squad that will take part in the country’s first appearance at the Women’s World Cup have not been paid by their football federation since competing at the Tokyo Olympics nearly two years ago, the Guardian can reveal.
Zambia face Japan in their opening match on Saturday having qualified by reaching the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations last year. Several sources close to the team said most of the players have yet to receive any payment for matches and up to 100 days of training since returning from the Olympics in August 2021. That includes up to 40 days at the Afcon in Morocco.
