The excitement that comes with cup football is set to triple next season with the Zambian Premier League (ZPL) announcing two new cup competitions.

For several years now, the Zambian football landscape has been starved of many cup competitions, with the ASBA Cup being the only elite cup competition.

However, starting next season, clubs will have to brace themselves for more cup action with the introduction of the Champion of Champions Cup and the ZPL Challenge Cup.

This will bring the number of cup competitions to three.

“As ZPL, we are also excited to announce the introduction of two more cup competitions,” ZPL CEO Joseph Chimpampwe said at a media briefing, “The Champion Champions and the ZPL Challenge Cup. I can also mention that the ZPL Challenge Cup will be the most lucrative cup we shall have.”

Who will qualify for these cup competitions?

While the format has not yet been outlined, Chimpampwe revealed that the ZPL Challenge Cup will see all teams from the Super Division and the National Division One participate.

The Cup will also have a women’s version.

For the Champions of Champions Cup, it will be an end-of-season competition that will pit winners of the ABSA Cup, the Super League, the ZPL Challenge Cup, and the National Division One.

Meanwhile, ZPL has also unveiled 2024-25 season fixtures, scheduling the league to start on August 17.

Speaking during a media briefing at Football House, ZPL CEO Joseph Chimpampwe said the men’s and women’s leagues will kick off on August 17.

“As ZPL, we are excited to unveil the 2024/2025 MTN Super League and the Women’s Super-Division fixtures that were ratified by the board. The two leagues will run concurrently starting on August 17,” Chimpampwe said.