The provincial line-up for the 2026 Absa Cup has been confirmed, with ten teams from across Zambia securing qualification for this year’s edition of the prestigious knockout tournament.
Under the current competition format, 21 teams qualify at the halfway point of the season from Zambia’s three top leagues, with ten coming from the provincial leagues, four from the ZPL National League, and seven from the MTN Super League. All ten provinces will be represented in the tournament.
The FAZ National Division One teams will face each other in the opening round of the tournament, with the winners progressing to the next stage, where they will meet National League and Super League sides, setting up exciting match-ups against some of the country’s biggest teams.
The ten provincial teams that have qualified are Play It Forward from Southern Province, Mikalile FC from Eastern Province, who are making their maiden appearance after narrowly missing out last season on goal difference.
Barotse Crocs from Western Province return for a second consecutive year with Real Nakonde from Muchinga Province as the former Super League side looks to make a deeper run, while Teta Football from Northern Province also qualified for this year’s edition.
Mathkat United from Luapula Province, Solwezi Mushitala Stars from North-Western Province, Nampundwe from Lusaka Province, Forest Myooye from Central Province, and Zambezi Portland from Copperbelt Province complete the lineup.
Meanwhile, four teams have secured qualification from the ZPL National League, namely Roan United, Makeni All Stars, Kafue Celtics and Chirundu United.
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