Organising body | FAZ |
---|---|
Founded | 1962 |
Country | Zambia |
Confederation | CAF |
Number of teams | 18 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | National Division One |
Domestic cup(s) | ABSA Cup |
League cup(s) | Samuel Ndhlovu Charity Shield |
International cup(s) | |
Current champions | Power Dynamos (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 receives ZMW1,000,000 ($40000) and a copper trophy engraved with their team name.
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.
At the conclusion of 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 qualifies 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.
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.
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]
Position | Team | Prize Money (ZMW/K) | Telecast Prize | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ZESCO United | 500,000 | 300,000 | 800,000 |
2 | Green Eagles | 350,000 | 300,000 | 650,000 |
3 | Buildcon | 200,000 | 300,000 | 500,000 |
4 | Zanaco | 200,000 | 300,000 | 500,000 |
The previous league winners are as follows:
Club | Location | Titles |
---|---|---|
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 | 2 |
Nchanga Rangers | Chingola | 2 |
City of Lusaka | Lusaka | 1 |
Roan United | Luanshya | 1 |
Season | Goalscorer | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Rotson Kilambe | Zanaco | 17 |
Zachariah Simukonda | Red Arrows | ||
2003 | Francis Kombe | Power Dynamos | 18 |
John Lomani | Power Dynamos | ||
Musonda Mweuke | Kabwe Warriors | ||
2004 | Jimmy Mumba | Green Buffaloes | 15 |
2005 | Dube Phiri | Red Arrows | 28 |
2006 | Winston Kalengo | Zanaco | 28 |
2007 | Rainford Kalaba | Zesco United | 23 |
2008 | Rodgers Kola | Zanaco | 13 |
2016 | Walter Bwalya | Nkana | 24 |
2018 | Idris Mbombo | Nkana | 20 |
2019 | Laudit Mavugo | NAPSA Stars | 10 |
Austin Muwowo | Forest Rangers | ||
2019–20 | James Chamanga | Power Dynamos | 16 |
2020–21 | Moses Phiri | Green Buffaloes | 17 |
2021–22 | Ricky Banda | Red Arrows | 15 |
2022–23 | Andy Boyeli | Chambishi | 16 |