The Most Successful Zambian Super League Teams
The Zambian Super League is highly captivating, being one of the most-watched in the East African subregion. Zambian soccer has passed through several hiccups including sponsorship challenges and the pandemic. Nonetheless, the league organizers have managed to keep things running smoothly.
Our author, Kate Richardson of Mightytips, whose profile is accessible here, checks out the top five teams in the Zambian Super League and their performance in the 2020/21 season. The Zambian Super League was founded in 1962 and is currently in its 58th season. That underscores the consistency, hard work and rigorous planning that goes into the tournament annually. The ZSL is jointly sponsored by Mtn and the Football Association of Zambia.
ZSL ranks 7th on the African continent according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) 5-year ranking. This ranking is used to determine qualifications for continental competitions such as the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup. This is similar to UEFA’s coefficient ranking to determine if a team will participate in the Champions League or Europa League. The ZSL comprises 18 teams who slug it out for the Copper trophy. In terms of broadcasts and viewership, the league has a dedicated partner in Supersport, which ensures that Zambians and fans from other African nations can watch the ZSL and participate in sports betting Zambia.
Of the eighteen teams that battle in the ZSL yearly, some have achieved a name for themselves with their dominance and consistency at the top, while others have not been so fortunate and had to be relegated. In this section, we’ll take a look at some of the most decorated soccer teams in the ZSL and their current status on the league ladder.
Nkana FC
Nkana FC is one of the most famous teams in Zambia. Plying their trade in Zambia’s top division, they are the current champions, having won the adjusted 2019/20 season. Nkana FC is based in Wusakile, Kitwe and holds the record for the most ZSL wins with 13 titles. Overall, Nkana is the second most successful with 44 trophies to its name. While the defending champions have faltered this season and find themselves in 16th place, they’ve got some games in hand and will hope to climb up the ladder soon.
Mufulira Wanderers
The Mighty Abena Milambo, as they are famously called, is the most decorated Zambian team in history. Mufulira Wanderers have 50 trophies to their name, including nine Zambian Super League titles. However, times have changed with the Mufulira Wanderers now playing in the second division after getting relegated last season. Nonetheless, no one can erase their history as Zambia’s most incredible soccer team.
ZESCO United
Zesco United is the current leader for 2020/21 with 46points. The team isn’t new to ZSL success, as they’ve previously won the league eight times. That also includes consecutive wins between 2014 and 2015, as well as 2017 to 2019. The team made history as the first Zambian team to qualify for the CAF Champions League. They are also unbeaten at home against foreign teams. ZESCO United was founded in 1974 and plays its home games at Ndola. As the name suggests, ZESCO is owned by the state electricity company Zesco.
Zanaco
Zanaco FC is owned by the Zambian National Commercial Bank, founded in 1978. The team has tasted massive success on the ZSL front with seven league titles to their name. The team plays out of Lusaka and is currently second on the league table. Zanaco is also one of the teams that defended the ZSL title, winning back to back between 2005 and 2006. Zanaco’s most recent trophy came in 2017’s Barclays Cup after their ZSL triumph the previous year.
Power Dynamos
Power Dynamos is one of the more successful teams in the league. Power Dynamos has six ZSL titles to its name. The team is based in Kitwe and finished last season in 6th place. In an improvement over last season’s results, Power Dynamos sits in fourth place and has the potential to achieve higher positions. Their main rivals are Zesco and Nkana United due to their attractive football style and proximity to one another.
Kabwe Warriors
Rounding up our list of top teams in the Zambian Super League is Kabwe Warriors. The team has five ZSL trophies to its name. Although they haven’t won the league since 1987, they have been more successful in the Zambian Challenge Cup with eight titles, with their most recent triumph happening in 2007. Kabwe Warriors currently occupy the 7th position in the league.
Some other notable mentions include Green Buffaloes, Nchanga Rangers, and Red Arrows, with those teams having nine ZSL titles among them. Soccer is one of the most loved sports in Zambia, and the ZSL gets lots of love from Zambians. The ZSL is exclusively available on Supersport, with all 126 matches being broadcast live.
Each of the 18 teams in the KSL receives K300,000 from the Supersport broadcasting deal, while the MTN sponsorship contributes $4million over five years. As a result, whoever wins the Zambian Super League gets a total prize of K800,000.
The prize money for the League Champions is K500,000 and K350,000 for the second-placed team, while the remaining teams take home K200,000 each. Zambian soccer fans can find live updates on the Zambian Super League’s happenings on the league website. The fantastic nature of the ZSL means fans also get rewarded for their support by participating in sports betting Zambia.
Mightytips website provides regular updates on soccer leagues across the African continent, including football predictions and betting tips on the ZSL. You can also find comprehensive reviews of bookmakers and football betting sites involved in Sports Betting Zambia to enhance your betting experience.