The FIFA World Cup starts in less than two weeks in Australia and New Zealand, but almost all teams’ preparations for the start have not gone smoothly.
Head coach of Zambia Bruce Mwapea suspected of sexual abuse, The Guardian reported on Saturday. In addition to Mwape, also a coach for girls under the age of 17 Kaluba Kangwa is under investigation.
– If Mwape wants to sleep with someone, you have to agree, one player who remains anonymous told the magazine.
According to one source, the players were threatened with sanctions if someone threatened to tell outsiders about the events. According to the source, the association has turned a blind eye to the incident, as the team’s results have been good.
On Friday, Zambia beat Germany, which is ranked second in the world rankings and is one of the tournament’s medal favorites, 3–2.
Chairman of the Football Association of Zambia Andrew Kamangan according to which the investigation of the case has been transferred to Fifa and the police. The international football association Fifa did not comment on the matter to the Guardian.
Nigeria in trouble
Playing in the same group as host Australia, Nigeria has found itself in deep trouble. The country’s football association has threatened to kick the head coach to the yard by Randy Waldrumand the team’s players have flashed even boycotting their World Cup opener due to unpaid fees.
In addition to the national team coach, Waldrum, who coaches at the University of Pittsburgh, spoke at the American in June on the podcast about the problems faced by his team.
Nigeria had to cancel its preparatory camp, the players and coach have not received their salaries and the travel arrangements have not taken into account, for example, the requirements of the International Football Association.
– We were supposed to have a 10-12 day camp in Nigeria before traveling to Australia, but the federation canceled it. The clubs treat the players better than how they are treated here in the national team. I could tell so many horror stories from our gaming trips… Players don’t get their promised bonuses or daily allowances, head coach Waldrum gushed according to Australian media.
– I know we haven’t prepared as we should have. Lately, especially in the last few weeks, I’ve been really frustrated with the union and the non-existent support we get from them, Waldrum thundered.
The International Football Association said in June that every player playing in the Games earns at least 28,000 euros.
Protested before
It is by no means the first time the Nigerian team has been at odds with the country’s federation. In the summer 2019 World Cup, the team threatened to stay in the hotel due to unpaid compensation.
In 2016, Nigeria won the African Championship and after the games had to demand unpaid salaries on the streets of the capital, Abuja.
Already in 2004, the Nigerian team sat in a hotel for three days after the African Championship, until an agreement was reached on the fees.
Also last year, the team stayed in their hotel after the African championships for two days waiting for compensation.
Now the team’s players are said to be planning a strike for the opening match of the World Cup. Nigeria will face Canada in their World Cup opener on July 21.
Other teams also have problems
Nigeria is not the only country in Group B to have problems ahead of the World Cup. In February, reigning Olympic champion Canada also defied the union with a strike, which the union, however, banned. The collective agreement between the women’s national team and the federation expired in 2021, and the parties have not reached an agreement.
Union economy is said to be even on the verge of bankruptcywhich is why it has cut back on national team spending.
Ireland, who also played in the same World Cup qualifying group as the Helmarei, has been at the center of the commotion before their first World Cup tournament in their history.
Irish Dutch pilot Vera Pauw’ta has been accused of inappropriate behavior while coaching NWSL club Houston in 2018. Pauw has denied the allegations.
There have been problems in other national teams as well. For example, the Jamaican team expressed in a social media post in June his dissatisfaction with the country’s football association.
The players had been left without proper compensation and there had been problems with training conditions, travel, food and equipment. Cheyna Matthews revealed that the mother of one of the players organized crowdfunding for the team.
The South African national team was supposed to prepare for the World Cup tournament by facing Botswana on Sunday last week. However, the team and the union are at odds, which is why the head coach Desiree Ellis had to assemble a team mostly from players from local clubs. Among other things, a 13-year-old player played in South Africa’s ranks.
The team lost to Botswana 0–5.
The team was not satisfied, because the association had not told how much the players will receive compensation for playing in the World Cup. In addition, the association had placed the Botswana match, which served as the World Cup host, in a small stadium with a capacity of 5,000 spectators, which didn’t even meet the criteria for the men’s main series.
The incident is particularly embarrassing for South Africa, as the country is bidding for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The South African national team and the federation reached a settlement on Wednesday.
Last year, there were also problems in the Spanish and French teams. Last fall, 15 players refused the national team invitation as long as Jorge Vilda works as a team coach. The union sided with Vilda in the dispute, and some of the star players have since returned to the national team.
Instead, the French Football Federation kicked the head coach out Corinne Deacon and hired to replace the one who piloted Saudi Arabia in the men’s World Cup in Qatar Herve Renard.
The soccer World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be played from July 20 to August 20, 2023. shows the races on its channels.