ZESCO United react to expulsion from Zambian Premier League

ZESCO United have reacted to their shock expulsion from the Zambian Premier League (ZPL) for breaching rules and regulations, describing the punishment as a mere purported ‘suspension from league activities.’

The nine-time MTN Super League champions defended its decision to take a football matter to an ordinary court of law following its exclusion from the ABSA Cup, an action which earned the team the suspension.

The real reason why Zambian Premier League expelled ZESCO United👇https://t.co/TSs9XUVy9m#Zambia #AfricanFootball

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) April 3, 2026

In a statement by club acting chief executive officer John Ngoma, the 2024-2025 ABSA Cup winners insisted that they went to the ordinary court of law to seek justice after the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) failed to act on the request to have the matter handled by an Arbitration Tribunal.

What is ZESCO United’s argument after suspension?

“Despite these efforts, FAZ and the ZPL did not oblige the club’s request, and in fact intimated that the matter was administrative and did not require the intervention of any other body beyond FAZ and the ZPL,” reads the statement.

“On account of the response from FAZ, and regard being had to the provisions of the FAZ Constitution which enjoins jurisdiction of the Zambian Arbitration Act, ZESCO United proceeded to the High Court to seek judicial intervention to compel FAZ to facilitate for the convening of Arbitration Tribunal so that its grievance against the Association could be heard in line with due process and established football governance frameworks, especially the FAZ Constitution.

“It should be made very clear that the club did not seek the High Court to determine its dispute with FAZ and the ZPL, and in fact as of 2nd April, 2026, the High Court directed FAZ to facilitate for the convocation of the Arbitration Tribunal, so as to hear the dispute.

“ZESCO United remains committed to resolving this matter through the appropriate football governance channels, which the club sought to enforce through the court to ensure ZPL’s adherence. We continue to engage all relevant stakeholders to ensure a fair, lawful, and expeditious resolution.”

In a letter to the club, ZPL, through its general secretary Joseph Chimpampwe, faulted the 2025 ABSA Cup kings for undermining the league’s statutes.

“In light of this development, and in accordance with the FAZ Constitution and league regulations and governance principles, the Zambia Premier League has resolved to suspend ZESCO United Football Club from participation in the league with immediate effect,” reads the suspension letter.

“This suspension will remain in force until the court matter is fully resolved. Consequently, all upcoming fixtures involving ZESCO United are hereby suspended until further notice,” reads the letter.

Genesis of bad blood between ZESCO and Zambian Premier League

ZESCO United went to the traditional court of law to challenge their removal from the ABSA Cup over their earlier fixture against Mutondo Stars, which had already been played earlier in the season.

During its assessment, ZPL classified the match as a postponed fixture although ZESCO United had reached the required 17-game threshold needed for qualification.

The Ndola-based team was subsequently instructed to replay the fixture, which they lost resulting in the forfeiture of their ABSA Cup slot to FC MUZA, a team founded by Zimbabwe Football Association president Keith Mweemba, who announced that he is no longer involved in its administration after assuming the highest office.

There is a lot at stake as the ABSA Cup winners earn the ticket to represent Zambia in the CAF Confederation Cup and ZESCO were the holders.

The ABSA Cup defending champions represented Zambia in the CAF Confederation Cup before the exiting the group stages with just one win, beating previous holders Zamalek while losing most of the matches to Kaizer Chiefs and Al Masry FC also from Egypt.