The ZPL National League entered Week 5 with more twists in the race for promotion and survival. From Roan United’s flawless start to River Plate’s struggles at the bottom, the league is beginning to take shape. Here’s the full roundup with analysis on each match and team performance.
Roan United 2–0 Ndola United
Roan United’s perfect start to the campaign continued with another dominant display, making it five wins from five. Their ability to combine solid defending with efficient finishing has made them early promotion favorites. With 9 goals scored and only 1 conceded, they are the most balanced side in the league.
Ndola United, on the other hand, are finding life difficult. Despite their effort, they remain in the relegation zone with just 3 points. Their defense has now leaked 8 goals in 5 matches, and without sharper organization at the back, survival could be a tall order.
Kafue Celtics 1–2 Locus FC
Kafue Celtics’ inconsistency showed once again as they slipped to their second loss of the season. While they have been solid in attack with 6 goals scored, their defensive line has conceded 7 goals, costing them valuable points. Sitting in 7th place with 7 points, they need to rediscover balance if they are to push toward the top four.
For Locus FC, this result was a turning point. Their first win of the campaign pushed them to 5 points, giving hope of climbing away from the lower half. The win showcased resilience and clinical finishing—traits they’ll need to repeat in the coming weeks.
Forest Rangers 1–0 Chambishi FC
Forest Rangers continue to demonstrate why they are one of the league’s hardest teams to beat. With another clean sheet, they have now conceded just 1 goal all season, boasting the best defensive record in the league. Their compact style and tactical discipline have earned them 11 points and kept them firmly in the promotion race.
Chambishi FC, however, have slipped into mid-table struggles. With 5 points from 5 matches, their inability to find consistency in both attack and defense (GF:4 GA:5) is limiting their progress. They will need to be sharper in front of goal to avoid being dragged into the bottom half.
Kitwe United 1–0 Lumwana Radiants
It was relief at last for Kitwe United as they picked up their first win of the season. With 4 points now on the board, the team will hope this victory sparks a turnaround. However, their goal tally of just 3 scored and 8 conceded shows that there’s still a lot of work to be done on both ends of the pitch.
Lumwana Radiants, meanwhile, have now dropped to 12th with 5 points. Despite their relatively decent defense (4 goals conceded), their attack has been blunt, with only 3 goals scored in 5 games. That lack of cutting edge has cost them in close matches like this one.
River Plate FC 0–1 Jumulo FC
River Plate’s struggles continued with yet another defeat. Still winless, they remain stuck in the relegation zone with just 2 points from 5 matches. Their attack has been toothless, scoring only 3 goals, while their defense has let in 6. Urgency is needed if they are to avoid an immediate relegation battle.
Jumulo, on the other hand, continue to quietly build momentum. This victory lifted them to 6 points, showing signs of steady improvement. With 5 goals scored and 6 conceded, they remain a mid-table team, but one with potential to climb further if they can turn draws into wins.
Mpulungu Harbour 1–1 Chirundu United
Chirundu United’s unbeaten start was maintained, though they dropped points in a tough away draw. With 11 points from 5 games and a defensive record of just 2 goals conceded, they have established themselves as one of the league’s toughest sides. If they can increase their attacking output (6 goals scored), they might yet push Roan United for top spot.
For Mpulungu Harbour, the draw showed resilience. With 6 points (W1 D3 L1), they are proving hard to beat, having scored 5 and conceded 5. However, too many draws may cost them in the long run if they want to climb into the top six.
Trident FC 3–0 Chipata City Council (Walkover)
Trident FC were awarded a 3–0 walkover after Chipata City failed to fulfill the fixture. The result keeps Trident in the promotion mix with 10 points (W3 D1 L1). Their official tally of 7 goals scored and only 2 conceded shows balance across the pitch.
Chipata City remain in mid-table with 7 points, but this walkover loss reflects organizational challenges that could hurt them if not addressed.
Sunday Fixtures
