Former Ghana head coach Avram Grant has officially been sacked from his position as manager of the Zambia national football team, both the FA and the coach have confirmed separation.
The 69-year-old Israeli tactician confirmed his exit via a post on his Instagram page, marking the end of a three-year tenure with the Chipolopolo.
“After almost three years, my time as head coach of the Zambia men’s national team has come to an end.
“I am proud to leave the team in a much better position than when I inherited it.”
“I’m proud that after not qualifying for the African Cup of Nations in years, I managed them to two successive AFCONs and the team are strong and ready to face the challenges ahead”
”I hope that one day this great country qualifies for a World Cup for the first time its long football history.”
”I would like to thank the players and my staff who did a great job in challenging conditions and most importantly to the people of Zambia who were so supportive.”
“Thank you former President Andrew Kamanga for giving me the opportunity to manage this nation. You played a major part in our success. And to all the good people at ©fazfootball who stood by me.”
”I wish the team every success for the future.”
Grant, who took charge in December 2022, guided Zambia to qualification for the 2023 and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments—achieving back-to-back appearances for the first time since 2015.
Despite the qualification successes, Zambia struggled in both finals, exiting at the group stage in Côte d’Ivoire 2023 and failing to progress beyond the group phase in the ongoing 2025 edition in Morocco.
Under Grant’s leadership, Zambia showed moments of promise, including a notable 3-0 victory over Côte d’Ivoire in June 2024, but inconsistency plagued their performances.
The team finished bottom of their group at AFCON 2023 and currently sits third in their 2026 World Cup qualifying group behind Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso.
The FAZ has acknowledged Grant’s contributions and confirmed that the search for his successor has begun. Local media reports suggest the association is prioritizing a coach with strong African football experience to build on Grant’s foundation.
The former Chelsea’s Boss departure adds another chapter to his extensive African coaching résumé, which includes stints with Ghana (2014–2017, AFCON runners-up in 2015) and now Zambia.
His next move remains uncertain, though he has been linked with club roles in the Middle East and Europe.