ZESCO United F.C.
 Zambia | |||
| Full name | ZESCO United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | Zega Mambo, Team Ya Ziko | ||
| Short name | Zesco | ||
| Founded | 1 January 1974 (1974-01-01) | ||
| Stadium | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola | ||
| Capacity | 49,800 | ||
| Owner | ZESCO | ||
| Chairman | Richard Mulenga | ||
| Manager | George Lwandamina | ||
| League | Zambia Super League | ||
| 2024–25 | 2nd | ||
| Website | http://www.zescounitedfc.co.zm/ | ||
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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.[1]
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. 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.
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.[2]
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.[3]
The club also created history by being the first Zambian club to sign Asian players, with Kosuke Nakamachi from Japan.
Stadium
Before mid-2012, ZESCO United played its home games at the Trade Fair grounds in the industrial area of Ndola.[4][5][6] After the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium opened in June 2012,[7] ZESCO United shifted to playing its home games at the new stadium.[8] 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.[8][9][10][11]
Achievements
- Zambian Cup: 1
- 2006
- Finalist : 2007
- 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2021
- ABSA Cup: 6
- 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2025
- Finalist : 2021
- 2007
- 1980, 2003
Performance in CAF competitions
- CAF Champions League: 9 appearances
- CAF Confederation Cup: 6 appearances
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.
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Former players
References
- ^"Zesco Utd embrace big bus theory". Lusaka Times. 2013-05-27. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
- ^"Africa: Success Story Coming From Zambian Club Zesco Utd in African Club Championship".
- ^"Puncherello Chama gives his analysis of Zesco's win over Sundowns in the African Champions League semi-final 1st leg".
- ^"Zambia : Zesco Fail To Crack Al Ahly". 2011-04-23. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^"Zambia : Zesco United Surrender League Title". 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^"allAfrica.com: Zambia: No Excuses This Time, Zesco Told". allafrica.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^"Zambia : President Sata officially commissions Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, promises 10 more such facilities in Zambia". 2012-06-02. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ ab"Zambia : Chembo Turns to Trio to Down Power Dynamos". 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^"Zesco United F.C shifts its remaining fixtures to Ndola Trade Fair grounds | Lusaka Voice". 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^"Army Worms Invade Levy Stadium, ZESCO United Resorts To Trade Fair". tumfweko15.rssing.com. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ZESCO UNITED TO PLAY HOME GAMES FROM TRADE FAIR GROUNDS
- ^"A Malayan tiger in Zambia: 'My name is Marcel Kalonda, and I am Malaysian'". footballpink.net. 15 June 2020.
- ^"FAM ends Marcel Kalonda links after documentation snag". goal.com.
External links
