On July 9, The Guardian revealed that Bruce Mwape, the head coach of the Zambian women's soccer team, is facing an investigation for alleged sexual misconduct.
Dating back to May 2018, Mwape officially took over the coaching reins of the Zambian women's soccer team and led the team to a historic breakthrough, reaching the World Cup for the first time. However, in September 2022, the Zambia Football Association (ZFA) declared to the public that it had submitted the investigation report of the alleged sexual assault to FIFA. It was reported that apart from Mwape, U17 coach Kalubakangwa had also become one of the FA employees under investigation.
One player, who requested anonymity, told the Guardian, "If Mwape looks at a player, you have to acquiesce. In our team, intimacy between coaches and players seems to be a family affair."
A source close to the situation revealed that while the players were threatened, it was not directly from Mwape. He revealed, "If anyone dared to comment on what happened, they could have been punished. The FA chose to remain silent on this as the team's excellent results became their means of showing success and positivity to the public and regulators. However, the truth behind the scenes is unsettling."
In this year's Women's World Cup in Africa, Zambia are in Group C alongside Spain, Japan and Costa Rica and have the burden of qualification on their shoulders.
