Bwalya’s nomination comes after a directive from the Government to the FAZ Executive Committee that he should be put forward at whatever cost, according to Zambia Reports. 

He claims the $80,000 was a debt on behalf of the FAZ, however, the money has allegedly never been seen or recorded anywhere in the national governing body’s financial books.

The 1988 African Footballer of the Year will still have to pass an integrity test at FIFA before he can make the ballot, which is scheduled to take place during the next FIFA Congress in Bahrain’s capital Manama on May 11.

Bwalya remains under investigations by FIFA’s anti-corruption body.

"The Executive Committee of the Football Association of Zambia unanimously agreed to support Kalusha Bwalya's nomination for FIFA Council membership," the FAZ said in a statement on the back of a meeting at Football House.

"As a sign of solidarity of Kalusha's candidacy, 13 Football Association Presidents from the COSAFA [Council of Southern Africa Football Associations] region will visit Zambia at the invitation of FAZ President Andrew Kamanga.

"The FAZ will send a formal request to the Government of the Republic of Zambia to join in the lobbying of Kalusha's candidacy."

The announcement of Bwalya’s nomination coincides with Kamanga suspending his deputy Richard Kazala and FAZ Executive Committee member Blackwell Siwale for alleged gross misconduct.

Kazala and Siwale are accused of swindling the FAZ out of money after under declaring the amount State House paid for tickets to the Zambia versus Nigeria match last month.

President Edgar Lungu forked out K1,650,000 (£207/$318/€243) for match tickets, however, the pair only remitted K1,500,000 (£188/$289/€221) to the FAZ.

Neither Kazala nor Siwale are authorised to carry out management duties on behalf of FAZ.

In June 2014, the FAZ came under fire after celebrating Italy's 2-1 victory over England in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil with a tweet hitting back at British media corruption allegations against Bwalya.

Bwalya was one of the 30 African heads who, according to the Sunday Times in London, allegedly received bribes from former FIFA vice-president bin Hammam to influence the 2022 World Cup bid.

In its accusations, the British newspaper exposed Bwalya's e-mails to bin Hammam, in which the then FAZ President solicited and accepted $80,000 for the FAZ and his personal expenditure.

Following England's opening group game loss to Italy, a tweet on the official FAZ page, @FAZFootball, read, "very happy that England has lost. I wonder who they will blame..."

Instead of receiving the desired support, the rash tweet backfired on the "tweeter" with many incited by the "unprofessional" and "undisciplined" remark.

Many responded to the comment via the social media website, calling for the person responsible to be "fired" or "punished".