ZESCO United F.C.

ZESCO United Football Club (simply often known as ZESCO) is a Zambian professional football club based in Ndola, that competes in the Zambia Super League. Founded in 1974, the team plays its home matches at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

The club is wholly owned and sponsored by the state owned electricity supplier ZESCO.

History and records

ZESCO United was founded in 1974. They became the first Zambian club to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage in 2009. ZESCO United are one of only 3 Zambian clubs including Nkana and Green Buffaloes who hold an all time unbeaten home record against non Zambian opposition.[citation needed] ZESCO United also became the first Zambian Club in the 21st century to play against European opposition when they played against Zenit Saint Petersburg in Abu Dhabi in 2008.[citation needed]

They reached their first ever semi finals of the CAF African Champions League after a 2–2 draw away to Egyptian league champions Al Ahly in Matchday 5 of the 2016 CAF Champions' League quarter final group stage.

They extended their all time unbeaten home record against non Zambian teams to 26 games on Saturday, 17 September 2016, after a 2–1 home win against South African league champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League.

The club became the first Zambian club to sign an Asian player, Kosuke Nakamachi from Japan.

In April 2026, the club was suspended from the Zambian Premier League for taking its grievance on being disqualified from the ABSA Cup to a public court of law.

Stadium

Before mid-2012, ZESCO United played its home games at the Trade Fair grounds in the industrial area of Ndola. After the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium opened in June 2012, ZESCO United shifted to playing its home games at the new stadium. The Trade Fair grounds remain a venue for ZESCO United to host matches when they need an alternative venue from the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, such as when the stadium has scheduled maintenance works.

Achievements

• Zambian Premier League: 9

2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020–21 Runner up : 2005, 2009, 2013, 2016, 2021–22, 2023–24, 2024–25

• Zambian Cup: 1

2006 Finalist : 2007

• Zambian Charity Shield: 5

2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2021

• ABSA Cup: 6

2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2025 Finalist : 2021

• Zambian Coca-Cola Cup: 1

2007

• Zambian Division One: 2

1980, 2003

Performance in CAF competitions

• CAF Champions League: 9 appearances

2008 – last 32 2009 – group stage (top 8) 2011 – last 16 2015 – last 32 2016 – semi-finals 2018 – group stage (top 16) 2019 – first round 2020 – group stage (top 16) 2022 – preliminary round

• CAF Confederation Cup: 6 appearances

2006 – first round 2010 – first round 2013 – last 16 2014 – second round 2017 – quarter-finals 2019 – group stage (top 16)

Players

Current squad

As of 13 Dec 2025. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Former players

• Democratic Republic of the Congo Marcel Kalonda

External links