By Bola Yapa Zed Sports Desk | 27th November 2025
ZPL National League Week 16 Fixtures Preview: High Stakes as Title Race Intensifies
The 2025/26 ZPL National League enters Week 16 with the title race heating up and the relegation battle tightening. With Makeni All Stars leading the table on 32 points and several teams fighting for survival at the bottom, this weekend’s fixtures carry massive implications. From top-of-the-table clashes to crucial must-win matches for relegation-threatened sides, Week 16 promises drama across all venues.
Below is the full preview of every match scheduled for Thursday 27th and Saturday 29th November 2025, detailing each team’s position, points, and what a win, draw, or loss would mean for their season.
📍 Thursday – 27th November 2025
Kafue Celtic (8th, 21 points) vs Makeni All Stars (1st, 32 points)
Venue: Crocs Swamp Ground
Kickoff: 15:00hrs
Kafue Celtic, sitting 8th on 21 points, enter this fixture knowing that a win could potentially lift them into the top six depending on other results. Having drawn seven of their 14 matches, Celtic desperately need victories if they are to challenge for the top-four places. A win against a high-flying Makeni side would be a huge statement and could ignite their late push for promotion. Dropping points at home, however, may leave them stuck in mid-table as the gap with the teams above grows wider.
For league leaders Makeni All Stars, this match is an opportunity to strengthen their title charge. With 32 points, they hold a narrow two-point lead over second-placed Roan United. A win would keep them top and potentially stretch the gap if Roan slip up on Saturday. A draw would keep them in first place but open the door for Roan to overtake them. A loss would be their third of the season and could see them drop to second depending on Roan’s result.
Makeni’s strong unbeaten run in recent weeks makes them favourites, but Celtic’s home form and ability to frustrate top teams means this fixture could be tighter than expected. Both teams have plenty to fight for—Makeni for leadership of the league, Celtic for a climb into the competitive mid-table pack.
📍 Saturday – 29th November 2025
Forest Rangers (6th, 25 points) vs Roan United (2nd, 30 points)
Venue: Dola Hill Ground
Kickoff: 15:00hrs
Forest Rangers, 6th on 25 points, have enjoyed a stable run this season and remain within touching distance of the top four. A win would move them to 28 points, level with Trident FC if they don’t win, and keep their promotion aspirations alive. A draw at home would maintain their steady progress but could see them fall behind Lumwana Radiants depending on other results. A loss would widen the gap between them and the top three, reducing their momentum.
Roan United, currently 2nd with 30 points, trail Makeni All Stars by just two points. A victory away from home could put them top of the league for the first time in weeks—depending on Makeni’s Thursday result. A draw keeps them competitive but could also allow Trident FC to close the gap. A defeat would be a major setback, especially with Trident only two points behind them.
This match has massive implications for the title race and for Roan’s hopes of overtaking Makeni. Forest, on the other hand, have a chance to shake up the top two and prove they belong in the promotion conversation. Expect a cagey, high-stakes match at Dola Hill.
Jumulo (14th, 12 points) vs Indeni (9th, 20 points)
Venue: Baluba School Ground
Kickoff: 15:00hrs
Jumulo, sitting 14th on 12 points, continue to struggle in the lower half of the table. A win at home would push them to 15 points and potentially take them out of the relegation zone depending on River Plate and Chambishi results. A draw offers little relief as they remain dangerously close to the drop. A loss would deepen their survival worries and could leave them in the bottom three by weekend’s end.
Indeni FC, 9th with 20 points, are comfortably mid-table but still within reach of the top eight. A win would move them to 23 points, keeping their hopes of climbing into the top six intact. A draw away from home keeps them steady but may allow Kafue Celtic or Kitwe United to overtake them. A loss would stagnate their progression and drag them closer to the mid-table congestion.
This fixture offers Jumulo a vital opportunity to spark their survival fight, while Indeni aim to build momentum heading into the mid-season period. The pressure is heavier on Jumulo, but Indeni’s superior form gives them the edge.
Mpulungu Harbour (13th, 12 points) vs Kitwe United (10th, 16 points)
Venue: Muzabwera Ground
Kickoff: 15:00hrs
Mpulungu Harbour, positioned 13th with 12 points, are in desperate need of consistency. A win moves them to 15 points and gives them a fighting chance to climb out of the lower bracket. A draw may keep them just above Jumulo, but risks dropping into the relegation zone if results elsewhere go against them. A loss would intensify their survival struggle and widen the gap to safety.
Kitwe United, 10th with 16 points, see this match as a chance to rise into the mid-table comfort zone. A win would place them on 19 points and potentially move them above Indeni and possibly Kafue Celtic depending on results. A draw is not ideal but keeps them afloat in mid-table. A defeat would push them backwards and erase any momentum gained in recent weeks.
Both teams are under pressure—Mpulungu to escape danger, Kitwe to avoid being dragged back into it. This clash is a six-pointer for both sides.
River Plate (16th, 11 points) vs Lumwana Radiants (5th, 25 points)
Venue: Lusaka Independence Stadium
Kickoff: 15:00hrs
River Plate, 16th on 11 points, are in a precarious position as they fight to avoid the drop. A win would lift them to 14 points and potentially move them above Chambishi. A draw may help little, keeping them dangerously close to bottom place. A loss could see them fall to 17th if Ndola United collect points in their postponed match.
Lumwana Radiants, 5th on 25 points, are chasing a top-four finish and know that every match counts. A win would keep them level with or above Forest Rangers and possibly challenge Chirundu for 4th place. A draw away from home is still valuable but may slow down their push toward the promotion zone. A loss would put pressure on their position in the top five.
This match presents contrasting pressures: River Plate fighting for survival, Lumwana pushing for promotion. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Trident FC (3rd, 28 points) vs Aguila Stars (7th, 21 points)
Venue: Sentinel Ground
Kickoff: 15:00hrs
Trident FC, third on 28 points, remain strong contenders for the title and promotion. A win could move them level with Roan or even to within touching distance of Makeni, depending on results. A draw keeps them competitive but makes it harder to catch the top two. A loss risks slipping into the grasp of Lumwana and Forest in the battle for third place.
Aguila Stars, 7th with 21 points, are still within reach of the top six and have proven they can score goals. A win against a title contender would lift them to 24 points and potentially to 6th. A draw keeps them steady but may see Kafue Celtic overtake them. A defeat would keep them stuck in mid-table and widen the gap to the top four.
This is one of the biggest matches of the weekend and could shape the league’s top-half dynamics significantly.
Chambishi FC (15th, 11 points) vs Locus FC (18th, 8 points)
Venue: Chambishi Stadium
Kickoff: 15:00hrs
Chambishi, sitting 15th with 11 points, are only three points above the bottom of the table. A win could move them as high as 13th if other results favour them. A draw offers little in the fight against relegation. A loss could see them drop to 17th depending on Ndola United’s postponed match.
Bottom-placed Locus FC, with 8 points, are desperate to revive their season. A win would move them to 11 points, level with Chambishi, giving them a huge psychological boost. A draw does little to improve their chances of survival. A defeat would be damaging and potentially leave them further adrift at the foot of the table.
This is a critical relegation showdown. Both teams need points urgently, making it one of the most tense matches of Week 16.
Postponed Matches
Conclusion
Week 16 of the ZPL National League carries huge implications across the table—from title ambitions for Makeni, Roan, and Trident to intense relegation battles involving Locus, River Plate, and Chambishi. Every result this weekend could reshape the standings, making it one of the most decisive rounds of the season so far.
