The 2026 edition of the ABSA Cup was officially launched on Monday morning, with the preliminary round draw conducted at ABSA House in Lusaka.
Sponsors ABSA Bank Zambia have increased their investment in the competition, unveiling a total sponsorship package of K7 million — a 7.7 percent increment from last year’s allocation.
Prize Money Breakdown
The champions of the 2026 ABSA Cup will walk away with K1,100,000, while the runners-up will pocket K450,000.
Individual awards will also be handsomely rewarded:
🏆 Winning Team – K1,100,000
🥈 Runners-up – K450,000
⭐ Player of the Tournament – K25,000
⚽ Golden Boot (Top Scorer) – K25,000
🧤 Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper) – K25,000
🏅 Man of the Match (Preliminary to Round of 16) – K5,000
🏅 Man of the Match (Quarter-final, Semi-final & Final) – K15,000
Additionally, ABSA Bank has pledged logistical support to the eventual winners should they qualify to represent Zambia in the CAF Confederation Cup for the 2026/27 season.
ZESCO United’s qualification for the ABSA Cup has been reversed after the Zambia Premier League clarified that the slot had been awarded in error, citing the club’s outstanding Week 2 fixture against Mutondo Stars, which is yet to be played. The league has confirmed that the rescheduled match will take place before the preliminary ABSA Cup fixtures, meaning FC MUZA still has a realistic chance of qualifying should ZESCO suffer defeat in the decisive encounter.
Competition Format & Key Dates
The preliminary round will feature ten provincial teams, with five progressing to the Round of 16 where they will join seven MTN Super League teams and four National Division One sides.
Preliminary Round: 21/22 March
Round of 16: 4/5 April
Quarter-finals: 18/19 April
Semi-finals: 25/26 April
Final: 9/10 May
All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Preliminary Round Fixtures
Solwezi Mushitala Stars (North Western) vs Teta FC (Northern Province)
Forest Myooye (Central Province) vs Barotse Crocs (Western Province)
Nampundwe (Lusaka Province) vs Mikalile (Eastern Province)
Mathkat United (Luapula) vs Play It Forward (Southern Province)
Zambezi Portland (Copperbelt) vs Real Nakonde (Muchinga Province)
Round of 16 Fixtures
Winner Match 1 vs ZESCO United / FC MUZA
Winner Match 2 vs Mufulira Wanderers
Winner Match 3 vs Power Dynamos
Roan United vs Nchanga Rangers
Chirundu United vs Kabwe Warriors
Kafue Celtic vs ZANACO FC
Winner Match 4 vs Makeni All Stars
Winner Match 5 vs Red Arrows
