The MTN Super League represents the top tier of the Zambian soccer pyramid, overseen by FAZ. The League had its inaugural season in 1962, with Roan United being the first club to lift the title. The current league name stands due to a $3 thousand sponsorship deal with African telecommunication Giants MTN which will run until 2024. The MTN Super League 2021/22 is the most recent season and will kick off on September 11. In addition, Supersport holds the league broadcasting rights and televises 135 matches.
2015 Super League Restructuring
On October 10, 2015, the Super League underwent a restructuring process by FAZ, increasing the number of competing teams to 18 from the previous 16. Concurrently, the second tier, known as Division One, was then reorganized into four zones, each consisting of 16 teams.
First Division Zone
First Division Zone 1 – Luapula, Copperbelt, and North-Western Provinces.
First Division Zone 2 – Lusaka and Eastern Provinces.
First Division Zone 3 – Northern, Central, and Muchinga Provinces.
First Division Zone 4 – Southern and Western Provinces.
Super League Relegation
The new league structure meant that the teams finishing in 15th to 18th positions of the Super League would get relegated to the First Division at the end of the 2017 season. Simutenuasly, the champions from the four-zones earned promoted to the superleague. Also, as part of the restructuring, Division Two and Three Leagues were played at the provincial level, allowing for each of the ten Zambian provinces to be represented.
Reformated Leagues 2019
The Football Association of Zambia reformated the structure of the Leagues yet again in 2019 to its current form. The Super League kept its previously agreed-upon system while enhancements to the lower divisions took place. At the end of each Super League season, the top four spots get rewarded with a bite at continental football. Therefore, the teams that end in first and second positions qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage, while those that land in third and fourth place qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. Along with that, the bottom four teams get relegated to the newly formated Eden University National League.
The Football Association of Zambia reformated the structure of the Leagues yet again in 2019 to its current form. The Super League kept its previously agreed-upon system while enhancements to the lower divisions took place. At the end of each Super League season, the top four spots get rewarded with a bite at continental football. Therefore, the teams that end in first and second positions qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage, while those that land in third and fourth place qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. Along with that, the bottom four teams get relegated to the newly formated Eden University National League.
