Zambia FA receive huge financial increment ahead of ABSA Cup

ABSA Bank has rolled out the 2026 ABSA Cup that will see the winners pocket a whooping K1.1 million while the runners up will get K450, 000.

FAZ president Keith Mweemba has hailed the 19-year sponsorship the bank has provided to the country’s lone surviving cup competition that will see 21 teams jostle for honours.

Absa Cup Prize Increased

ABSA Bank Zambia has increased the prize money for the 2026 ABSA Cup to seven million Kwacha, providing a significant boost to the competition.

ABSA Bank Managing Director MIZINGA MELU announced this during the launch and draw of the 19th edition. pic.twitter.com/gOqTQNWwBM

— ZNBC (@znbctoday) March 2, 2026

And sports minister Elvis Nkandu has implored ABSA Bank to consider extending logistical support to the winner of the ABSA Cup who will represent the country in the 2026-27 CAF Confederation Cup.

Speaking during the launch of the 2026 ABSA Cup launch, ABSA Bank Managing Director Mizinga Melu said having the winner of the cup representing the country on the CAF stage was a mark of pride for the bank.

This budget is bigger than the marathon

“As a Bank we have spent K7 million on this tournament. Last year it was in the ranges of six million kwacha and now it has gone up. This budget is bigger than the marathon, so this is our biggest sponsorship,” she said.

“The winners of the 2026 ABSA Cup will receive a massive K1.1 million, last year it was just a million. The runners up will receive K450, 000 and individual awards are proudly sponsored by Spectra and will each carry K25, 000 for the Player of the Tournament, Golden Boot and Golden Glove.”

She added: “Player of the tournament sponsored by Big Tree will carry K5, 000 from the preliminary round to the round of 16 and K15, 000 from the quarterfinals to the finals.”

Melu announced that SuperSport would be the broadcast partner for the 2026 ABSA Cup with the ABSA Bank Facebook page also streaming the matches. And Mweemba thanked ABSA for supporting FAZ through an unbroken 19-year partnership.

“By any standards, 19 years is a long time to sustain a sponsorship partnership, which puts ABSA Bank in a league of its own,” said the FAZ chief.

ABSA Cup will kick off on March 21

He thanked the FAZ patron President Hakainde Hichilema for gracing all the ABSA Cup finals since assuming office in 2021.

“To our parent ministry, we are grateful for the support we continue to receive from government through the assured leadership the minister Hon Elvis Nkandu and our patron President Hakainde Hichilema.

“It cannot go without notice that President Hichilema has attended every single ABSA Cup final since assuming office in 2021, which demonstrates his support to the beautiful game,” he said.

Meanwhile the sports minister thanked ABSA Bank for the support they were giving to the participating teams beyond grants.

“Equally commendable is the provision of travel grants to teams travelling long distances. This reflects a shared vision of ensuring that no region is left behind and that talent from every province is given a fair opportunity to compete on the national stage,” Nkandu said.

Dynamos and Mufulira Wanderers will await winners

The 2026 ABSA Cup will kick off on March 21 in Kabwe with North Western envoys Mushitala Stars squaring off with Teta FC of Northern Province while Forest Myooye (Central) will battle it out with Barotse Crocs.

In the other match ups Nampundwe (Central) will take on Mikalile (Eastern) while Mathkat United (Luapula) faces Play It Forward (Southern).

Zambezi Portland (Copperbelt and Real Nakonde will conclude the preliminary round fixtures.

Confirmed fixtures for the round of 16 are Chirundu United versus Kabwe Warriors, Kafue Celtic versus Zanaco, Roan United versus Nchanga Rangers while Red Arrows, Makeni All Stars, Power Dynamos and Mufulira Wanderers will await winners from the preliminary rounds.