{{short description|Zambian knockout football competition}} {{For|the South African competition that formerly used this name|Nedbank Cup}} {{Infobox football tournament | founded = 2007 | image = ABSA Zambia Cup.png | caption = Logo since 2019 | region = [[Zambia]] | most successful team = ZESCO United F.C (6 titles) | current champions = [[Red Arrows F.C.]] | number of teams = 8 teams (6 from Super League and 2 from National Division One) | organiser = [[Football Association of Zambia|FAZ]] | broadcasters = [[SuperSport (South African broadcaster)|SuperSport]] | current = [[2026 ABSA Cup]] }}
The '''ABSA Cup''', formerly the '''Barclays Cup''', is the current branding for an [[association football]] [[single-elimination tournament|cup competition]] launched in 2007 by the [[Football Association of Zambia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zambianfootball.co.zm/barclays-cup/|title=Barclays Cup|website=ZamFoot|access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zambcuphist.html|title=Zambia Cup Winners|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cups|website=[[Football Association of Zambia]]|url=https://www.faz.co.zm/cups/|access-date=23 May 2022|archive-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523175908/https://www.faz.co.zm/cups/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Participants are decided half-way through current season (match day 17)<ref>{{cite web|date=28 February 2020|title=8 Teams Picked For 2020 Absa Cup|url=https://www.zedsoccer.com/8-teams-picked-for-2020-absa-cup/|website=ZedSoccer|access-date=21 November 2020}}</ref> and are picked from the two highest divisions in Zambia. Since the inaugural season of [[Zambia National Division One|National Division One]] in the 2019–20 season, 2 teams are picked from that division and 6 are from the [[Zambia Super League|Super League]] to enter the competition each year.<ref>{{cite web|title=ABSA Cup 2019|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zamb2019.html |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=21 November 2020}}</ref>
Following the full acquisition of the assets and operations of [[Barclays]] in Africa,<ref>{{cite web|last=Buthelezi|first=Londiwe|date=8 April 2013|title=Absa’s Deal To Buy Barclays’ African Operations Runs Behind Schedule|url=http://www.iol.co.za/business/companies/absa-s-deal-to-buy-barclays-african-operations-runs-behind-schedule-1.1496625#.U9_Mv5Ug8Ss|website=[[Independent Online (South Africa)|IOL]]|access-date=7 June 2018}}</ref> including Zambia,<ref>{{cite web|date=2 March 2018|title=Barclays Africa Group Rebrands to Absa Group Limited|url=https://tumfweko.com/2018/03/02/barclays-africa-group-rebrands-to-absa-group-ltd/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501093951/https://tumfweko.com/2018/03/02/barclays-africa-group-rebrands-to-absa-group-ltd/|archive-date=1 May 2018|website=Tumufweko|access-date=30 April 2018|location=[[Lusaka]]}}</ref> by South Africa-based [[Absa Group Limited|ABSA]] (now ''Absa Group Limited'') in 2018, the competition's next edition in 2019 was rebranded as the '''Absa Cup'''.<ref>{{cite web|date=23 May 2019|title=2019 ABSA Cup launched as sponsorship package gets 25% hike|url=http://zambianfootball.co.zm/2019-absa-cup-launched-as-sponsorship-package-gets-25-hike/|website=ZamFoot|access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref>
The [[video assistant referee]] (VAR) was introduced to the competition and implemented on [[pilot experiment|a pilot basis]] at [[2023 ABSA Cup final|the final]] of [[2023 ABSA Cup|the 2023 edition]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 May 2023|title=VAR for the 2023 ABSA Cup final?|url=https://zambianfootball.co.zm/var-for-the-2023-absa-cup-final/|website=ZamFoot|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mukunsa|first=Mutakila|date=27 May 2023|title=Zambia first to use VAR technology in Cosafa region|url=https://bolanews.co/soccer/absa-cup-2023/zambia-makes-history/|website=Bolanews|access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref> a first in [[Zambian football]] and Sub-Saharan African football as a whole. Thus, this put Zambia on the list as the 3rd African country after Morocco and Egypt to introduce and implement VAR in domestic football matches.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tutu|first=Arnold|date=27 May 2023|title=VAR To Be Used During ABSA Cup Final|url=https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/var-to-be-used-during-absa-cup-final/|website=[[ZNBC]]|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> Head of referees at FAZ, Aziph Banda, cited the inadequacy of [[FIFA]]-certified referees to operate the VAR, with female referee Diana Chikotesha being the only exception having previously experienced its usage at the [[2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations]] and [[Janny Sikazwe]] having retired as the reason why the association appointed foreign referees solely for that final.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chikenge|first=Calvin Kaumba|date=27 May 2023|title=FAZ explains why the ABSA Cup final was not officiated by Zambians with VAR in use |url=https://bolanews.co/soccer/absa-cup-2023/faz-explains-why-the-absa-cup-final-was-not-officiated-by-zambians/|website=Bolanews|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref>
==New format== As of the 2024–25 season, 21 teams from Zambia's three highest leagues (10 provincial league, 4 National division one, 7 super league) will qualify at the halfway point of the season.
== Winners ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" !colspan=4| As [[Barclays]] Cup |- | 2007 || [[ZESCO United F.C.|ZESCO United]] || 0–0 ([[overtime (sports)#Extra time|aet]], 4–2 [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|pen.]]) || [[Chambishi F.C.|Chambishi]] |- | 2008|| ZESCO United || 1–0 || [[Power Dynamos F.C.|Power Dynamos]] |- | 2009|| Power Dynamos || 2–1 || [[Green Buffaloes F.C.|Green Buffaloes]] |- | 2010 || ZESCO United || 2–0 || [[Zanaco F.C.|Zanaco]] |- | 2011 || Power Dynamos || 2–1 || [[Konkola Blades F.C.|Konkola Blades]] |- | 2012 || [[NAPSA Stars F.C.|NAPSA Stars]] || 4–4 ([[overtime (sports)#Extra time|a.e.t.]], 4–2 [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|pen.]]) || Power Dynamos |- | 2013 || [[Red Arrows F.C.|Red Arrows]] || 3–1 || [[Nchanga Rangers F.C.|Nchanga Rangers]] |- | 2014 || ZESCO United || 3–0 || [[Nkana F.C.|Nkana]] |- | 2015 || Green Buffaloes || 2–0 || [[Nkwazi F.C.|Nkwazi]] |- | 2016 || ZESCO United || 1–0 || Zanaco |- | 2017 || Zanaco || 2–1 ([[overtime (sports)#Extra time|a.e.t.]]) || NAPSA Stars |- | 2018 || Nkana || 3–0 || [[Young Buffaloes F.C. (Zambia)|Young Buffaloes]] |- !colspan=4| As Absa Cup |- | 2019 || ZESCO United | 4–1 | Zanaco |- | 2020 |colspan=3|Cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia]]<ref>{{cite web|date=5 August 2020|title=2020 ABSA Cup Cancelled|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2020/08/05/2020-absa-cup-cancelled/|website=Lusaka Times|access-date=21 November 2020}}</ref> |- | [[2021 ABSA Cup|2021]] | [[Lusaka Dynamos]] | 0–0 (3–1 [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|pen.]]) | ZESCO United |- | 2022 |[[NAPSA Stars F.C.|Napsa Stars]] |1–0<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-30 |title=NAPSA Stars stun Red Arrows to win the ABSA Cup |url=https://zambianfootball.co.zm/napsa-stars-stun-red-arrows-to-win-the-absa-cup/ |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=Zamfoot}}</ref> |[[Red Arrows F.C.|Red Arrows]] |- | [[2023 ABSA Cup|2023]] | [[Forest Rangers F.C.|Forest Rangers]] | [[2023 ABSA Cup final|2–0]] | [[Maestro United Zambia F.C.|Maestro United Zambia]] |- | [[2024 ABSA Cup|2024]] | [[Red Arrows F.C.|Red Arrows]] | [[2024 ABSA Cup final|2–1]] | [[Kabwe Warriors F.C.|Kabwe Warriors ]] |- | [[2025 ABSA Cup|2025]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-10 |title=ZESCO win record extending seventh ABSA Cup title - an24 africa |url=https://news.an24.africa/2025/05/10/zesco-win-record-extending-seventh-absa-cup-title/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> | [[ZESCO United F.C.|ZESCO United]] | [[2025 ABSA Cup final|1–1]] (4–2 [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|pen.]]) |[[Red Arrows F.C.|Red Arrows]] |- | 2026<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jere |first=Joshua |title=Red Arrows Crowned 2026 ABSA Cup Champions – Zambia 24 |url=https://zambia24.com/2026/05/10/red-arrows-crowned-2026-absa-cup-champions/ |access-date=2026-05-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> | [[Red Arrows F.C.|Red Arrows]] | 2–0 | [[Power Dynamos F.C.|Power Dynamos]] |}
==Performances by club== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Club ! Location ! Winners ! Losing finalists |- | [[ZESCO United F.C.|ZESCO United]] | [[Ndola]] | 7 | 1 |- | [[Red Arrows F.C.|Red Arrows]] | [[Lusaka]] | 3 | 2 |- | [[Power Dynamos F.C.|Power Dynamos]] | [[Kitwe]] | 2 | 3 |- | [[NAPSA Stars F.C.|NAPSA Stars]] | [[Lusaka]] | 2 | 1 |- | [[Zanaco F.C.|Zanaco]] | [[Lusaka]] | 1 | 3 |- | [[Green Buffaloes F.C.|Green Buffaloes]] | [[Lusaka]] | 1 | 1 |- | [[Nkana F.C.|Nkana]] | [[Kitwe]] | 1 | 1 |- | [[Lusaka Dynamos F.C.|Lusaka Dynamos]] | [[Lusaka]] | 1 | 0 |- | [[Forest Rangers F.C.|Forest Rangers]] | [[Ndola]] | 1 | 0 |- | [[Chambishi F.C.|Chambishi]] | [[Chambishi]] | 0 | 1 |- | [[Kabwe Warriors F.C.|Kabwe Warriors]] | [[Kabwe]] | 0 | 1 |- | [[Konkola Blades F.C.|Konkola Blades]] | [[Chililabombwe]] | 0 | 1 |- | [[Maestro United Zambia F.C.]] | [[Mazabuka]] | 0 | 1 |- | [[Nchanga Rangers F.C.|Nchanga Rangers]] | [[Chingola]] | 0 | 1 |- | [[Nkwazi F.C.|Nkwazi]] | [[Lusaka]] | 0 | 1 |- | [[Young Buffaloes F.C. (Zambia)|Young Buffaloes]] | | 0 | 1 |}
== Records == * Shadreck Malambo set a competition record by winning all 3 ABSA Cup finals he has featured in, each with 3 different clubs; 2013 with Red Arrows, 2018 with Nkana and 2023 with Forest Rangers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chama|first=Lucky|date=26 May 2023|title=Shadreck Malambo poised to set ABSA Cup |url=https://bolanews.co/soccer/absa-cup-2023/shadreck-malambo-poised-to-set-absa-cup-record/|website=Bolanews|access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}} {{ABSA Cup}} {{Football in Zambia}}
[[Category:Football competitions in Zambia]]