FAZ Women's Super Division
| Founded | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Country | Zambia |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Level on pyramid | 1-3 |
| International cup(s) | COSAFA / CAF W-Champions League |
| Current champions | Green Buffaloes Ladies FC (2022-2023) |
| Most championships | Green Buffaloes Ladies FC (6 titles) |
| Current: 2023 | |
The FAZ Women Super Division is the highest league of women’s football in Zambia. It was established in the beginning of 2021 and is run by FAZ.[1] The inaugural season featured 12 teams from four provinces in Zambia.[2] The super division replaced the 4 regional women's leagues (Copperbelt, Lusaka, North-west and Central[3]) as the highest level of women’s football in Zambia, while the regional leagues dropped to the second tier. In November 2022 a new nationalwide division one was created,[4] serving as the second tier and dropping the regional leagues to the third tier.
The teams for the first season of the super division were selected from an application process where FAZ granted spots in the league for fully structured teams that were expected to be able to complete the full season.[3] The creation of the league came from a wider promotion of the women’s game in a promising era of Zambian women’s football with the Copper Queens qualified for the Tokyo Olympic games. It was also a response to the newly announced CAF Women's Champions League, where the best teams of the continent are competing and started later in 2021.[3]
Past champions[edit]
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2021) |
The Women's Football League in Zambia dates back to the beginning of the 1980s when women competed in Copperbelt province. The national league began in January 1984,[5] according to RSSSF, with teams "mostly from Copperbelt towns: Luanshya, Mufulira (Mufulira Flying Queens), Kitwe (Kitwe Flying Angels), Ndola, Kalulushi, Chililabombwe (Konkola Blades) and Chingola."[5]
The Football Association of Zambia became involved in the national league held from 1999 for a few seasons,[5] and the Lusaka Zambia Women Football Championship Cup was held from 2005–2007.[5]
In the beginning of the 90s Copperbelt football died out[dubious ] while it instead was introduced in Lusaka at the end of the decade[dubious ] and Kabwata EDUSPORT United was an early dominant of the game.[6] Since then, women have competed in various competitions, predominantly in the Copperbelt and Lusaka, with the following champions:[5]
| Year | Copperbelt | Lusaka | Lusaka Cup | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Lass Connect FC | |||
| 2005 | Arrows | |||
| 2006 | National Assembly Women | |||
| 2007 | National Assembly Women | |||
| 2011 | Green Buffaloes Women | |||
| 2013 | Green Buffaloes Women | |||
| 2014 | Moba Queens | |||
| 2015 | Zesco Ndola Girls | Green Buffaloes Women | ||
| 2016 | Indeni Roses | Green Buffaloes Women | Green Buffaloes Womena | |
| 2017 | Zesco Ndola Girls | Green Buffaloes Women | ||
| 2018 | Indeni Roses | Green Buffaloes Women | Green Buffaloes Womenb | |
| 2019 | Indeni Roses | Green Buffaloes Women | Green Buffaloes Womenc | |
| 2019−20 | Abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
- ^a First national championship final played between Copperbelt champion and Lusaka champion[7]
- ^b Green Buffaloes Women won the Inaugural Charity Shield 2019 (played between 2018 champions in Copperbelt and Lusaka province league) over Indeni Roses and was announced national champions 2018[8][9]
- ^c First national championship play-offs played between province league champions from Copperbelt, Lusaka, North-west, and Central.[10][11][12]
Super Division champions[edit]
| Year | National | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | Green Buffaloes Women | First ever Super Division edition[13] |
| 2021-2022 | Green Buffaloes Women | Won over Yasa Queens on penalties in play-off Final[14] |
| 2022-2023 | Green Buffaloes Women | Won after taking the lead from Red Arrows on the final day[15] |
Clubs in the 2022-2023 season[edit]
The third edition of the national league was won by Green Buffaloes and were contested by the following 18 clubs:
| Club | Province | Final position current season | Position previous season 2021/22 | First season | First season of current spell | Number of seasons in Super Division | Best Finishing position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bauleni United Sports Academy | Lusaka | 15 | 5 Zone B | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 6 (2020/21) |
| Green Buffaloes Women | Lusaka | 1 | 1 Zone A | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 1 (2022/23) |
| Green Eagles | Southern | 11 | 7 Zone B | 2021/22 | 2021/22 | 2 | 11 (2022/23) |
| Indeni Roses | Copperbelt | 6 | 2 Zone A | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 3 (2021/22) |
| Elite Ladies - Lusaka Dynamos Women | Lusaka | 4 | 4 Zone B | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 4 (2022/23) |
| Mufulira Wanderers Women | Copperbelt | 18 | 7 Zone A | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 12 (2020/21) |
| National Assembly Women | Lusaka | 9 | 6 Zone A | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 9 (2022/23) |
| Nkwazi Queens | Lusaka | 12 | 5 Zone A | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 8 (2020/21) |
| Play it Forward Queens | Southern | 16 | Southern Province 1st | 2022/23 | 2022/23 | 1 | 16 (2022/23) |
| Police Doves Queens | North-Western | 8 | 4 Zone A | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 8 (2022/23) |
| Prison Leopards Queens | Central | 17 | 8 Zone B | 2021/22 | 2021/22 | 2 | 15 (2021/22) |
| Queens Academy | Central | 13 | 6 Zone B | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 10 (2020/21) |
| Red Arrows Women | Lusaka | 2 | 2 Zone B | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 2 (2022/23) |
| Trident Queens | North-Western | 10 | North-West Province 1st | 2022/23 | 2022/23 | 1 | 10 (2022/23) |
| YASA Queens | Lusaka | 7 | 1 Zone B | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 2 (2021/22) |
| Zanaco Ladies | Lusaka | 5 | Lusaka Province 1st | 2022/23 | 2022/23 | 1 | 5 (2022/23) |
| Zesco Ndola Girls | Copperbelt | 3 | 3 Zone A | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 3 (2022/23) |
| ZISD Queens | Lusaka | 14 | 3 Zone B | 2020/21 | 2020/21 | 3 | 6 (2021/22) |
Lower tiers of the football piramid[edit]
National League[edit]
The national division one League was introduced in the 2022-2023 season, and was played in two zones with 8 teams each. The league serves as the second tier of the Zambian football piramid for women.
Champions of the first season was Luyando in the South Zone and Police Blue Eagles in the North Zone.
Regional Leagues[edit]
Serving as the third tier of Zambian female football is leagues divided by provinces. Earlier the top tier was organised like this but with the introduction of the Super division and National division one League, the regional football is feeding the nationalwide tiers.
References[edit]
- ^ "FORMATION OF A NATIONAL WOMEN'S LEAGUE AND PROMINENT WOMEN COMMITTEE TO RUN FUNDRAISING FOR COPPER QUEENS UNDERWAY – ANDREW KAMANGA". ZamFoot. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "FAZ CONFIRM LUSAKA DYNAMOS WOMEN'S SUPER DIVISION STATUS". ZamFoot. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "Zambia FA to introduce eight teams women top flight league". Zone Foot. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "FAZ WOMEN'S NATIONAL DIVISION ONE LEAGUE TAKES OFF". Melo Media. 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ a b c d e "Zambia - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Zambia (Women) 1982-2001". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "ZAMBIA: Green Buffaloes dismiss Indeni Roses to clinch 2016 league title". JWsports1. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Buffaloes win inaugural Zambia Women's Charity Shield". CAFOnline. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Zambia (Women) 2018". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "FAZ to extend women's Super League to Central, NW provinces". NewsDiggers. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Green Buffaloes crowned Zambia Women's League champions". CAFOnline. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Zambia (Women) 2019". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "BUFFALOES WIN LEAGUE WITH THREE GAMES TO SPARE". Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Facebook. 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ "Match Facts - Green Buffaloes vs Determine Girls". CAF Online. 2022-10-29. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ "WSL:Green Buffaloes again…. COSAFA Champions defend league crown". Zamfoot. 2023-05-07. Retrieved 2023-06-05.