2025 ABSA Cup


The 2025 Absa Cup was the 18th edition of the annual knock-out competition in Zambian football, organized by the FAZ. For the second time in the tournament’s history, the competition featured 21 teams. Following a format revamp approved by FAZ and Absa Bank Zambia in 2024, the Absa Cup included 10 provincial teams, seven MTN Super League teams, and four ZPL National League teams. This expanded format was designed to enhance nationwide participation and increase excitement in the tournament. Ten provincial teams competed in preliminary matches held on 15–16 March to determine which clubs advanced to the Round of 16. From that stage, the competition followed a single-elimination format, with knockout rounds played through the quarterfinals and semifinals, culminating in the final.

Teams

The ABSA Cup is a single-elimination tournament featuring 21 teams in 2025, an expanded format introduced in the 2023 edition. It consisted of:
10 provincial representatives from Zambia’s ten provinces, who contested in a preliminary round.
7 MTN Super League clubs and 4 National Division One teams, who entered in the Round of 16.
All rounds were drawn randomly, with matches played at neutral venues across Zambia.

Preliminary round

A total of 10 provincial teams played in the preliminary round, joined later in the Round of 16 by 7 MTN Super League clubs and 4 National Division One clubs. Provincial clubs represented Zambia’s 10 provinces.

Round of 16

The 16 winners from the preliminary round and National Division One clubs played in the Round of 16.
Super LeagueNational Division OneProvincial Teams-

Quarter-finals

The eight winners from the Round of 16 played in the quarter-finals.
Super LeagueNational Division OneProvincial Teams-

Semi-finals

The four winners from the quarter-finals played in the semi-finals. All four teams remaining were MTN Super League sides. On 23 April 2025, the Football Association of Zambia and ABSA Bank Zambia reversed an earlier decision to relocate the 2025 ABSA Cup semi-finals. Initially scheduled for Kabwe’s Railway Stadium—due to crowd-safety concerns from a derby incident at Ndola—the matches will now proceed as originally planned at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola FAZ explained the reversal followed widespread alarm over spectator safety after the Kitwe derby between Nkana and Power Dynamos, during which over 500 stadium seats were damaged by Nkana supporters. In response, FAZ and ABSA reassessed the situation, concluding that full preparations at Ndola should continue.
Super LeagueNational Division OneProvincial Teams-

Final

Super LeagueNational Division OneProvincial Teams-