Zambia Super League

Last updated
Zambia Super League
Zambia Super League.png
Organising body FAZ
Founded1962;62 years ago (1962)
CountryFlag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Confederation CAF
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid1
Relegation to National Division One
Domestic cup(s) ABSA Cup
League cup(s) Samuel Ndhlovu Charity Shield
International cup(s)
Current champions Red Arrows F.C.
(2022–23)
Most premierships Nkana (13 titles)
TV partners SuperSport
Current: 2023–24 Zambia Super League

The Zambia Super League, known as the MTN Super League for sponsorship purposes, is the top association football league created in 1962 by the Football Association of Zambia. The winners of the league each season receive ZMW1,000,000 ($40000) and a copper trophy engraved with their team name.

Contents

Format

The league is contested by 18 teams every season. Until 2018, it was scheduled to run within the calendar year from March to December. Since then, owing to the decision by CAF on 20 July 2017 to switch from their traditional across-year runtime/schedule of their club competitions to align with that of the UEFA/European calendar, [1] [2] it currently runs from August to May.

After each season and assuming Zambia is among the top 12 countries in the current CAF 5-year ranking system, the top 4 teams will qualify for CAF competitions; the top 2 qualify for the CAF Champions League and the two teams finishing below the top 2 positions on the league table qualifies for the CAF Confederation Cup. The teams who finish in the final 3 positions of the table are relegated to the National Division One league and replaced with the teams who finish in the top 3 positions of the National Division One league table.

Broadcasting

The league's broadcaster since 2007 is South Africa-based SuperSport, which telecasts 126 of the current 306 matches each season, all outside Southern Africa. [3] [4] Seven matches were added to the telecast schedule since the 2022–23 season.

Sponsorship

In 2018, FAZ struck a deal with the MTN Group of South Africa to sponsor the league being worth initially $4 million (ZMW 7,571,280) for 5 years [5] which has since been extended till date. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] Via telecasting the league on SuperSport, the prize money given to each league team is ZMW300,000 ($ 15,848.52). The league runners-up receives ZMW 350,000 ($ 18,489.94) and the other 16 teams receive ZMW 200,000 ($ 10,565.68). [4] [3]

PositionTeamPrize Money (ZMW/K)Telecast PrizeTotal
1 ZESCO United 500,000300,000800,000
2 Green Eagles 350,000300,000650,000
3 Buildcon 200,000300,000500,000
4 Zanaco 200,000300,000500,000

2023–24 clubs

Previous winners

The previous league winners are as follows:

Performances by club

ClubLocationTitles
Nkana Kitwe 13
Mufulira Wanderers Mufulira 9
ZESCO United Ndola 9
Power Dynamos Kitwe 7
Zanaco Lusaka 7
Green Buffaloes Lusaka 6
Kabwe Warriors Kabwe 5
Red Arrows Lusaka 3
Nchanga Rangers Chingola 2
City of Lusaka Lusaka 1
Roan United Luanshya 1

Top goalscorers

SeasonGoalscorerClubGoals
2002 Flag of Zambia.svg Rotson Kilambe Zanaco 17
Flag of Zambia.svg Zachariah Simukonda Red Arrows
2003 Flag of Zambia.svg Francis Kombe Power Dynamos 18
Flag of Zambia.svg John Lomani Power Dynamos
Flag of Zambia.svg Musonda Mweuke Kabwe Warriors
2004 Flag of Zambia.svg Jimmy Mumba Green Buffaloes 15
2005 Flag of Zambia.svg Dube Phiri Red Arrows 28
2006 Flag of Zambia.svg Winston Kalengo Zanaco 28
2007 Flag of Zambia.svg Rainford Kalaba Zesco United 23
2008 Flag of Zambia.svg Rodgers Kola Zanaco 13
2016 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Walter Bwalya Nkana 24
2018 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Idris Mbombo Nkana 20
2019 Flag of Burundi.svg Laudit Mavugo NAPSA Stars 10
Flag of Zambia.svg Austin Muwowo Forest Rangers
2019–20 Flag of Zambia.svg James Chamanga Power Dynamos 16
2020–21 Flag of Zambia.svg Moses Phiri Green Buffaloes 17
2021–22 Flag of Zambia.svg Ricky Banda Red Arrows 15
2022–23 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Andy Boyeli Chambishi 16
2023-24 Flag of Zambia.svg Freddy Michael Green Eagles 11

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References

  1. ↑ "Decisions of CAF Executive Committee – 20 July 2017". CAFOnline.com . 20 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017. It was agreed by the Committee to maintain the current format, but to proceed in the future to a change in timing for inter-club competitions which are expected to start from August to May.
  2. ↑ "Change in dates for Caf club competitions will begin in 2018". BBC Sport . 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 "SuperSport announces new outside broadcast partner and reaffirms commitment to Zambia". Mwebantu. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 Nelson, Adam (7 September 2015). "SuperSport signs US$5 million deal with Zambian FA". SportsPro. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2022. The latest upgrade to the deal is the second renewal between SuperSport and the FAZ, with the initial contract commencing in 2007 and being renewed for a further five years in 2010.
  5. ↑ Ngcatshe, Phumzile (21 March 2018). "Zambian FA announce new sponsorship deal with MTN". African Football. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  6. ↑ Long, Michael (15 December 2014). "MTN renews support for Zambian soccer". SportsPro Media. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "FAZ reveal eye-watering new MTN sponsorship deal". ESPN . 19 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  8. ↑ Jere, Joshua (12 April 2021). "FAZ, MTN SEAL K43m SPONSORSHIP DEAL FAZ, MTN SEAL K43m SPONSORSHIP DEAL". ZNBC . Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "Zambia : MTN Announces New K45 Million FAZ League Deal". Lusaka Times. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "FAZ, MTN pen new three-year deal". FARPost. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Nkana lifted 2019/20 Zambia Super League trophy". Africa Top Sports. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  12. ↑ "Nkana crowned 2019/20 champions". The Lusaka Sun. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  13. ↑ "Nkana crowned Zambia champions". CAFOnline.com . 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "Zesco United crowned 2020/21 Zambian Super League champions". African Football. 13 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "Zesco United wins ninth Zambian League title". CAFOnline.com . 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Zesco United crowned champions in Zambia". SuperSport . 13 June 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Red-hot Arrows strike first Zambia league title in 18 years". Africa Top Sports. 25 April 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "Red Arrows Crowned 2021/22 Zambian Super League champions". 24 April 2022. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Zambia: Red Arrows secure league title with one match to spare". Sport News Africa. 25 April 2022. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "Red Arrows triumph over Zesco United to lift Zambian League trophy". CAFOnline.com . 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  21. ↑ "Power Dynamos are MTN Super League champions". SuperSport . 6 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  22. ↑ "Power Dynamos seal seventh league title as Chambishi are relegated". ZamFoot. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  23. ↑ "Power Dynamos Officially Win the Zambian Super League". Added Time Exclusive. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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