Trident and Mines United Keep Top Three Hopes Alive

The ZPL National League is entering its final stretch, and every match now carries massive weight. Konkola Blades are still leading the race for promotion, but Kansanshi Dynamos are breathing down their necks. The fight for third place is getting tighter, with River Plate, Mines United, and Trident all in the mix. At the bottom, Leopards Hill, Chipata United, and Kafue Celtics are battling to escape the dreaded drop zone. Week 29 had it all—late winners, defensive masterclasses, and some shocking results. Let’s dive into the key matches and what they mean for the league standings.

Aguila Stars Edge Ndola United to Boost Survival Hopes

Aguila Stars 1-0 Ndola United
(Paul Katayi ⚽)

Aguila Stars secured a narrow but crucial 1-0 win over Ndola United, with Paul Katayi scoring the only goal of the match. The victory sees Aguila Stars move up to 9th place with 37 points, strengthening their mid-table position. For Ndola United, the defeat means they remain in 14th place on 31 points, dangerously close to the relegation zone. With just a few games left, they must pick up points quickly to avoid the drop.

Jumulo and Kansanshi Dynamos Share the Spoils in Goalless Stalemate

Jumulo 0-0 Kansanshi Dynamos

A tense battle between 7th-placed Jumulo (39 points) and 2nd-placed Kansanshi Dynamos (58 points) ended in a goalless draw. Kansanshi will see this as two points dropped in their race for automatic promotion, as they are now three points behind league leaders Konkola Blades (61 points). Jumulo, on the other hand, maintains their spot in the top half of the table but will be frustrated at not taking full advantage of their home game.

Kafue Celtics Secure Vital Win Over Leopards Hill

Kafue Celtics 2-1 Leopards Hill
(Eliya Mandanji ⚽⚽ | Michael Ngambi ⚽)

Bottom-placed Leopards Hill’s survival hopes took another hit as they fell 2-1 to 16th-placed Kafue Celtics. Eliya Mandanji’s brace gave Celtics a much-needed win, lifting them to 28 points, though they remain in the relegation zone. Leopards Hill, on the other hand, are still rock-bottom with 23 points, and with just five games left, their chances of staying up are looking slim.

Kitwe United Sinks Kafue Eagles to Keep Top-Half Push Alive

Kafue Eagles 0-1 Kitwe United
(Francis Musonda ⚽)

Kitwe United secured an important 1-0 away win over struggling Kafue Eagles, with Francis Musonda scoring the only goal of the match. Kitwe United is now in 11th place with 34 points, while Kafue Eagles remain in 13th place (31 points), still looking over their shoulders at the teams below them.

Chambishi Runs Riot Against Mpulungu Harbour

Chambishi 4-1 Mpulungu Harbour
(Alex Mukoshi ⚽ | Fred Mwila ⚽ | Mping Nganyen ⚽ (OG) | Anthony Chanda ⚽)

Chambishi delivered a statement victory, thrashing Mpulungu Harbour 4-1 in one of the biggest wins of the weekend. The victory moves Chambishi up to 12th place with 33 points, giving them breathing room from the bottom teams. Mpulungu Harbour, sitting in 10th place with 37 points, will be disappointed with their defensive collapse but remain in a relatively safe position.

Young Greens Buffaloes and River Plate Settle for a Goalless Draw

Young Greens Buffaloes 0-0 River Plate

River Plate, currently in 3rd place with 50 points, missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on the top two after a frustrating 0-0 draw against relegation-threatened Young Greens Buffaloes. Despite controlling possession, River Plate failed to break down a resilient Buffaloes side. For the Young Greens Buffaloes, this point keeps them at 15th place (31 points), but they need more wins to escape relegation.

Konkola Blades Drop Points but Stay Top After Chirundu United Draw

Chirundu United 0-0 Konkola Blades

League leaders Konkola Blades (61 points) were held to a goalless draw by 8th-placed Chirundu United (37 points) in a tense battle. The result means Konkola Blades remain three points clear at the top, but they missed the chance to extend their lead further. Chirundu United, meanwhile, will see this as a valuable point in their bid for a strong top-half finish.

Trident Grabs Crucial Win Over Prison Leopards

Trident 1-0 Prison Leopards
(Nicholas Chipoya ⚽)

Trident continued their push for a top-three finish with a 1-0 win over 6th-placed Prison Leopards (42 points). Nicholas Chipoya’s goal helped Trident climb to 5th place with 47 points, keeping their promotion hopes alive. Prison Leopards, meanwhile, suffered a setback but remain in contention for a strong finish.

Mines United Edge Chipata United to Keep Pressure on Top Three

Chipata United 0-1 Mines United
(Progress Bwalya ⚽)

Mines United continued their impressive run with a 1-0 away win over bottom-three side Chipata United (24 points). The result lifts Mines United to 4th place with 50 points, just three points behind River Plate in 3rd place. Chipata United, meanwhile, remain in 17th place and are running out of time to avoid relegation.

ZPL: National  League Table