ZESCO United Football Club has strongly contested its suspension by the Zambian Premier League (ZPL), describing the decision as “irregular” and defending its right to seek legal recourse.
The Ndola-based club was suspended with immediate effect from the MTN Super League on Friday after it pursued court action over its removal from the 2026 ABSA Cup.
In an official statement issued by Acting Chief Executive Officer James Ngoma, ZESCO United confirmed it had received formal correspondence from the league regarding the suspension. The club outlined the sequence of events leading to the standoff, insisting that it had duly qualified for the ABSA Cup by winning its qualifying fixture before the rules were allegedly altered, resulting in its exclusion.
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The club maintains that the suspension contravenes established disciplinary procedures and has vowed to pursue a fair and lawful resolution to the matter.
SUSPENSION OF ZESCO UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB BY ZAMBIAN PREMIER LEAGUE
ZESCO United Football Club wishes to inform its supporters, partners, and stakeholders that the club is in receipt of correspondence from the Zambian Premier League (“ZPL”) dated 12th February 2025 and received on 2nd April 2026 regarding its purported suspension from league activities.
The ZPL decision is premised on the club’s appeal following its exclusion from the ABSA Cup, a competition for which ZESCO United had duly qualified.
In the interest of transparency and to provide clarity to the public, the club wishes to outline the sequence of events:
ZESCO United lawfully participated in and won its qualifying fixture against Zanaco Football Club, thereby securing its place in the ABSA Cup. However, subsequent to this result, the applicable rules governing qualification were altered and applied in a manner that went against the established rules, resulting in the club’s removal from the competition.
Following this development, the club formally engaged the Football Association of Zambia (“FAZ”) and requested that it facilitates the convening of the constitutionally established Arbitration Tribunal to determine the matter in accordance with the governing statutes. 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.
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.
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 amongst FAZ, the ZPL and the Club.
The club is guided by principles of fairness, integrity, and respect for due process. It is our considered position that the purported suspension is irregular and contrary to established disciplinary procedures.
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.
We call upon our loyal supporters, partners, and stakeholders to remain calm, patient, and united behind the club during this period.
The club will continue to uphold transparency and will provide timely updates as developments unfold.
Issued by: ZESCO United Football Club
