The MTN Super League returns with Matchweek 18 poised to shape the direction of the 2025/26 season at both ends of the table. With the league table tightening after 17 rounds, clubs are increasingly defined by what they must chase—or escape. From relegation-threatened sides fighting for survival to ambitious contenders eyeing continental qualification, the stakes could not be higher.
Heading into the weekend, Red Arrows and Power Dynamos remain joint top on 35 points, while Nchanga Rangers continue to press from third place on 29 points. At the opposite end, Mines United (12 points), FC Leopards (12 points), and Mutondo Stars (13 points) are locked in a tense relegation struggle where every fixture now carries season-defining consequences.
Kitwe and Mufulira host three key encounters that will directly impact the survival battle and the continental race, with momentum, pressure, and form all coming sharply into focus.
Mutondo Stars return to Arthur Davies Stadium knowing the margin for error has vanished. Sitting 16th on the table with 13 points from 17 matches, Mutondo are deep in relegation trouble and face one of the league’s most dangerous opponents. With just one win all season, the hosts must find a way to turn resilience into results if they are to avoid slipping further toward the drop zone.
Nchanga Rangers arrive in Kitwe determined to respond after a narrow 1-0 KCM Derby defeat to Konkola Blades, a setback that briefly stalled their momentum. Still third on the log with 29 points, Rangers remain firmly in the continental conversation and cannot afford to drop points against bottom-half opposition. Coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina will demand intensity and composure as his side looks to keep pressure on Red Arrows and Power Dynamos above them.
History also favours the visitors. Nchanga won the reverse fixture 2-0 and remain unbeaten against Mutondo in four previous meetings. With Christopher Itaka’s finishing and Elliot Kampukesa’s creativity offering consistent threat, Rangers will expect to impose themselves. For Mutondo, however, a positive result would represent more than points—it would be a lifeline in their survival fight.
Nkana FC vs FC Leopards
At Chilata, Nkana FC will look to extend one of the league’s most impressive recent runs when they host struggling FC Leopards. After a difficult start to the campaign, Kalampa have quietly rebuilt momentum, going five matches unbeaten and winning their last three consecutively. That resurgence has lifted Nkana to 13th place on 19 points, easing relegation pressure and restoring belief.
FC Leopards arrive in Kitwe in stark contrast. Rooted in 17th place with 12 points, Leopards are firmly in relegation territory and running out of time. The club is still adjusting to the return of coach Albert Kachinga, whose second spell began with a defeat away to Nkwazi. Defensive fragility and a lack of goals have plagued Leopards, leaving them in urgent need of a response.
Nkana also hold the psychological edge, having gone unbeaten in the last two meetings between the sides. Victory on Friday could see Kalampa climb further away from danger and potentially leapfrog NAPSA Stars, while defeat for Leopards would deepen their crisis and intensify fears of an immediate return to the lower division.
Mufulira Wanderers vs Mines United
At Shinde Stadium, Mufulira Wanderers host bottom-placed Mines United in a fixture carrying sharply contrasting objectives. Wanderers currently sit sixth with 25 points, firmly positioned to push toward the top five and rebuild their identity as a competitive force in the league. Their recent 2-1 win over Green Buffaloes restored confidence and momentum.
Mines United, however, remain anchored to the foot of the table with 12 points, despite a morale-boosting 1-0 upset victory over Green Eagles last time out. That result offered a glimpse of hope, but consistency has eluded them all season. Every remaining fixture now carries must-win pressure if survival is to remain realistic.
Wanderers will draw confidence from their 2-1 win in the reverse fixture and will once again look to Patson Kwataime, Paul Tembo, and Joseph Tumbwe to break down the Mines defence. For Mines United, another positive result would represent more than points—it would be proof that their late survival push is still alive.
Conclusion
Matchweek 18 represents a defining moment in the MTN Super League season. For clubs at the bottom, survival is no longer theoretical—it is immediate and unforgiving. For teams chasing continental football, consistency and ruthlessness are becoming non-negotiable. As pressure mounts across Kitwe and Mufulira, Friday’s fixtures promise intensity, urgency, and potentially decisive shifts in the league standings.
