2019 Zambian 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 the 27th of January, A day after the Charity Shield.[5]
| Season | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 28 |
| Goals scored | 58 (2.07 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Laudit Mavugo Zikuru Adams (10 goals each)[1] |
| Biggest home win | Zanaco 4-1 Red Arrows (27 January 2019)[2] |
| Biggest away win | Lusaka Dynamos 2-5 Zanaco 3 February 2019 |
| Highest scoring | Lusaka Dynamos 2-5 Zanaco 3 February 2019 Zanaco 4-1 Red Arrows (27 January 2019)[2] |
| Longest winning run | 3 matches Zanaco |
| Longest winless run | 3 matches Kitwe United |
| Longest losing run | 3 matches Kitwe United |
← 2018 2019–20 →
All statistics correct as of 11 February 2019. | |
Teams
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
- Circuit City
- Mufulira Wanderers
- Maestro United Zambia (name changed from Manchester United Zambia Academy before season started)
- Prison Leopards
Prison Leopards' promotion
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
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 play offs 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
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
| 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[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 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 |
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:
- Lusaka Dynamos had 6 points deducted for failing to pay former players Abdul Latif Mohammed and Sheriff Deen.
Stream B
| 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 |
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
Stream A
Stream B
Third place match
Championship final
Top scorers
| 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
- "TOP SCORERS". zambianfootball.co.zm. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- Hamanyuma, Osward (January 28, 2019). "RIOT ZANACO SENDS CHAMPIONSHIP MESSAGE". Zambian Football. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- "2019 ZAMBIA SUPER LEAGUE TO START IN JANUARY". Archived from the original on 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
- Futaa. "2019 ZSL: Long awaited fixtures finally out". www.futaa.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
- Futaa. "Charity shield gate charges announced". www.futaa.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
- Miyoba, Michael (19 November 2018). "Climate to affect 2019 League Games". Daily Nation.
- "Circuit City seal FAZ Super Division Promotion".
- Lupiya, Mulwanda (26 November 2018). "Real return to topflight". Zambia Daily Mail.
- "Manchester United Zambia to stay in Mazabuka | ZamFoot". zambianfootball.co.zm. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
- Mbewe (29 December 2018). "Prisons Leopards Get Promoted After FAZ Ruling, Real Nakonde remain in zones". Zambian Football. zambianfootball.news. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- MUBANGA, AARON (30 December 2018). "Prison Leopards win promotion to Super League weeks after end of Season". futaa.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- "Zambia Football Current League Tables". Football League Tables Results & Statistics. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "2019 tables". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 22 February 2019.