2019 Zambia Super League

The 2019 Zambia Super League is the 58th season of the Zambia Super League, the top-tier football league in Zambia. Due to the transitional calendar of the CAF competitions in 2018–19, the 20 teams in the league will be divided into two groups of ten teams stream A and stream B, one of teams from the north and one of teams from the south,[3] Nkana leading one and Zesco United heading the other.[4] The teams top two with the most points will qualify for the CAF Champions League then the other two will play the CAF Confederations Cup. The League will return to normal for the 2019–20 season. The league is set to kick off on 27 January, A day after the Charity Shield.[5]

Zambia Super League
Season2019
Matches played28
Goals scored58 (2.07 per match)
Top goalscorerLaudit Mavugo

Austin Muwowo

Zikuru Adams (10 goals each)[1]
Biggest home winZanaco 4-1 Red Arrows
(27 January 2019)[2]
Biggest away winLusaka Dynamos 2-5 Zanaco
3 February 2019
Highest scoringLusaka Dynamos 2-5 Zanaco
3 February 2019
Zanaco 4-1 Red Arrows
(27 January 2019)[2]
Longest winning run3 matches
Zanaco
Longest winless run3 matches
Kitwe United
Longest losing run3 matches
Kitwe United
2018
All statistics correct as of 11 February 2019.

Teams edit

The season will be contested by 20 teams in two groups, the 16 teams which qualified from the 2018 Zambia Super League and four promoted clubs. After the season, only 18 teams will remain in the Super League.[6] The promoted clubs include Circuit City (debut),[7] Mufulira Wanderers (returning after one season), Real Nakonde (returning after one season)[8] and Manchester United Zambia Academy.[9] National Assembly, Nchanga Rangers, Kabwe YSA and New Monze Swallows were relegated from the 2018 Zambia Super League.

Confirmed promoted teams

Prison Leopards' promotion edit

Prison Leopards got promoted to the Super League weeks after the 2018 Division One season came to an end which resulted that Real Nakonde be demoted back to Division one the team that was confirmed to have won promotion earlier at the end of the season with a better goal difference but finished level on points with Prison Leopards. Leopards launched complained against their opponents Tazara Express from matchweek 23 to have ineligible players.[10] The match was forfeited and three points plus a three nil scoreline was awarded to Prison Leopards. Tazara Express was hence fined K5000.[11]

League restructuring edit

The Super League will adopt a new format starting in August 2019. At the end of the transitional season in June the Super League will have a reduced number to 18 as the Association looks to increase competitiveness.[12]

The start of a new league season in August 2019 will also see the start of the National Division One which will have 18 teams just like the top tier and will be a sponsored league. The two bottom teams from each zone of the transitional Super League will be relegated to the National Division One.

For promotion to the Super League after the end of the transitional season in June the four top teams from the zones will face each other in playoffs with the two winners (top teams) qualifying to the Super League while the other two will drop to the National Division one.

The National Division One will have six teams at this point. To make the total number of teams reach 18 the teams that will finish from 2nd to fourth in each zone will be promoted to the National Division one to make it 18 teams.[12]

League tables edit

In this transitional season, it will be played in two streams A and B. The Stream winners will play-off for the title, the Stream runners-up qualify for CAF Confederation Cup, two clubs will be relegated from each stream while only two clubs will be promoted as the top-level league is reduced to 18 clubs for 2020 season.[13]

Stream A edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 ZESCO United 18 9 6 3 35 20 +15 33 Qualification for Championship final and Champions League
2 Zanaco 18 10 3 5 40 28 +12 33 Qualification for Third place match and Confederation Cup
3 Red Arrows 18 9 6 3 25 15 +10 33
4 Kabwe Warriors 18 7 10 1 22 13 +9 31
5 Lusaka Dynamos 18 9 7 2 23 15 +8 28[a]
6 Green Buffaloes 18 4 8 6 16 16 0 20
7 Mufulira Wanderers 18 4 6 8 15 27 −12 18
8 Nakambala Leopards 18 4 5 9 12 24 −12 17
9 Kitwe United 18 2 5 11 14 25 −11 11 Relegation to National Division One
10 Prison Leopards 18 1 6 11 10 29 −19 9
Source: FAZ
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
  1. ^ Lusaka Dynamos had 6 points deducted for failing to pay former players Abdul Latif Mohammed and Sheriff Deen.

Stream B edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Green Eagles 18 10 6 2 22 10 +12 36 Qualification for Championship final and Champions League
2 Buildcon 18 8 7 3 21 12 +9 31 Qualification for Third place match and Confederation Cup
3 Nkwazi 18 7 8 3 15 12 +3 29
4 Forest Rangers 18 7 5 6 27 24 +3 26
5 NAPSA Stars 18 5 9 4 21 19 +2 24
6 Power Dynamos 18 6 6 6 19 20 −1 24
7 Nkana 18 5 8 5 26 27 −1 23
8 Lumwana Radiants 18 3 7 8 14 19 −5 16
9 Circuit City 18 4 4 10 17 27 −10 16 Relegation to National Division One
10 Maestro United Zambia 18 2 6 10 8 20 −12 12
Source: FAZ
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots

Results edit

Stream A edit

Home \ Away GB KW KU LD MW NL PLD RA ZAN ZU
Green Buffaloes 1–1 3–0 0–1
Kabwe Warriors 1–1
Kitwe United 1–2 2–0
Lusaka Dynamos 1–0 2–5
Mufulira Wanderers 0–0 3–0
Nakambala Leopards 1–1 1–0
Prison Leopards 0–0 1–1
Red Arrows 1–0 1–1
Zanaco 4–3 1–0 4–1
ZESCO United 0–0
Updated to match(es) played on 25 February 2019. Source: soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Stream B edit

Home \ Away BUI CC FR GE NAP MUZA NKA NKW PD LR
Buildcon 2–0 1–1 4–1
Circuit City 2–1 1–0
Forest Rangers 1–0 2–2 1–1
Green Eagles 1–0 0–1 2–0
NAPSA Stars 1–1 2–0
Maestro United Zambia 1–1 p-p
Nkana 0–2
Nkwazi 1–0
Power Dynamos 2–1 2–0 0–1
Lumwana Radiants 0–1 2–2
Updated to match(es) played on 27 January 2019. Source: soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Third place match edit

Zanaco1–3Buildcon

Championship final edit

Green Eagles0–0ZESCO United
Penalties
1–3

Top scorers edit

Rank Player Club Goals[1]
1   Laudit Mavugo Napsa Stars 10
  Austin Muwowo Forest Rangers
  Zikuru Adams Forest Rangers
4   Chrispine Mugalu Lusaka Dynamos 9
5   Rodger Kola Zanaco 8
  Rusike Tafadzwa Zanaco
  Jesse Were Zesco Utd
  Lazarous Kambole Zesco Utd

References edit

  1. ^ a b "TOP SCORERS". zambianfootball.co.zm. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Hamanyuma, Osward (January 28, 2019). "RIOT ZANACO SENDS CHAMPIONSHIP MESSAGE". Zambian Football. Retrieved 28 January 2019.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "2019 ZAMBIA SUPER LEAGUE TO START IN JANUARY". Archived from the original on 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
  4. ^ Futaa. "2019 ZSL: Long awaited fixtures finally out". www.futaa.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  5. ^ Futaa. "Charity shield gate charges announced". www.futaa.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  6. ^ Miyoba, Michael (19 November 2018). "Climate to affect 2019 League Games". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  7. ^ "Circuit City seal FAZ Super Division Promotion". 30 October 2018.
  8. ^ Lupiya, Mulwanda (26 November 2018). "Real return to topflight". Zambia Daily Mail.
  9. ^ "Manchester United Zambia to stay in Mazabuka | ZamFoot". zambianfootball.co.zm. Archived from the original on 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  10. ^ Mbewe (29 December 2018). "Prisons Leopards Get Promoted After FAZ Ruling, Real Nakonde remain in zones". Zambian Football. zambianfootball.news. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  11. ^ MUBANGA, AARON (30 December 2018). "Prison Leopards win promotion to Super League weeks after end of Season". futaa.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Zambia Football Current League Tables". Football League Tables Results & Statistics. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  13. ^ "2019 tables". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 22 February 2019.

External links edit