Zambia Women’s Head Coach Bruce Mwape Accused of Sexual Misconduct Ahead of World Cup

• Zambia Women's Head Coach Bruce Mwape is under investigation for sexual misconduct
• The case was referred by the country's football federation to FIFA for investigations last year
• Mwape is set to be in charge of the team when they make their first appearance at the Women's World Cup

Another crisis has hit an African nation heading to the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

With only less than ten days before the tournament kicks off in Down Under, a couple of nations have seen their preparations suffer setbacks.

Zambia has become the latest team to join the fray, with perhaps the most astonishing and unpleasant previous reports resurfacing.

The Copper Queens are set to make their debut in arguably the biggest women's competition, where they are scheduled to face Spain, Costa Rica and 2011 champions Japan in Group C action.

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They will be buoyed by the return of their lead striker Barbra Banda who was absent from their qualification journey due to a standoff with CAF over her high levels of testosterone.

Last year, controversy hit the squad after Head Coach Bruce Mwape was accused of sexual misconduct by an unnamed member of the squad, as the Guardian reports.

"If he wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes. It’s normal that the coach sleeps with the players in our team.”

FIFA took up the case

The country's football association referred the allegations to FIFA to investigate. U-17 boss Kaluba Kangwa is also under investigation.

Mwape took over the team in 2018 and has enjoyed success with the side. Apart from qualifying for the World Cup, they finished third in last year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations. It has been reported that the country's football federation has turned a blind eye to the allegations due to how well the team is performing.

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The case was referred to FIFA in October 2022, but the world governing body is yet to make public its findings. Mwape will be in charge when the Copper Queens make history in New Zealand.

Patrice Motsepe rescues Banyana Banyana

Sports Brief also reported that Banyana Banyana are ready to head off to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after resolving their stand-off with the South African Football Association.

The two parties made headlines over the weekend when the women’s national team refused to play their game against Botswana. The national team boycotted the game over concerns about the stadiums and a pay dispute with SAFA.

Banyana Banyana were then sent home and replaced with a new makeshift squad, which included a talented 13-year-old in the team.