{{Short description|Association football club in Zambia}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Nkana | image = NkanaFclogo.png | upright = 0.8 | fullname = Nkana Football Club | founded = 1932 | nickname = ''Kalampa'' | ground = Nkana Stadium, Wusakile, Kitwe | capacity = 10,000 | chairman = Joseph Silwamba | manager = [Mwenya Chipepo] (current) | league = Zambian Premier League | season = 2024–25 | position = 3rd | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = __FortunaA1617 | pattern_ra1 = | leftarm1 = ff0000 | body1 = red | rightarm1 = ff0000 | shorts1 = ff0000 | socks1 = ff0000 | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | leftarm2 = FFFFFF | body2 = FFFFFF | rightarm2 = FFFFFF | shorts2 = FFFFFF | socks2 = FFFFFF }} '''Nkana FC''' is a football club based in Kitwe, Zambia. The football team competes in the MTN Super League, the top division of Zambian football. Nkana FC has won 13 League titles, making it Zambia's most successful league club, and second overall behind Mufulira Wanderers, with 52 trophies. They play their home games at Nkana Stadium in Wusakile, Kitwe.
The club is currently sponsored by Mopani Copper Mines, which is also the team's major owner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=zamobserver |date=2023-12-22 |title=MOPANI COPPER MINE DISSOLVES NKANA FC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AFTER DIRE PERFORMANCE {{!}} The Zambian Observer |url=https://zambianobserver.com/mopani-copper-mine-dissolves-nkana-fc-executive-committee-after-dire-performance/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> The club has also acquired a kit sponsorship deal with global online gambling company GAL Sports Betting.{{Cn|date=May 2025}}
In 2020, after the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Zambia, Mopani Copper Mines reduced the sponsorship deal to the club by 50 percent, citing the failure of the copper prices due to the pandemic. The club decided to sign other sponsorship deals with The Zambia Revenue Authority and The Copperbelt University.{{Relevance inline|discuss=Relevant to the team?|date=October 2023}}
Nkana FC fans are known for their passionate support of their club.<ref>{{cite web | access-date=November 12, 2023 | url=https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/nkana-fans-cry-for-mercy/ | title=Nkana Fans ‘Cry’ For Mercy | date=June 21, 2023 | last=Kaumba | first=MIchael | url-status=live | website=ZNBC | archive-date=25 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625144056/https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/nkana-fans-cry-for-mercy/}}</ref>
==History== Nkana FC is one of Zambia's oldest football clubs having been formed in 1935 in Kitwe's Wusakile township. The club was founded under the name of Rhokana United FC before it changed to Nkana Red Devils. In 1990, they were runners-up in the African Cup of Champions, the only Zambian team to reach the finals.
Nkana achieved success during the 1980s and early 1990s, winning nine league titles from 1982 to 1993, including their 1993 season in which the club became one of only two clubs, and the only African club, to have won the Sextuple.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zambchamp.html|website=RSSSF|title=Zambia Champions|access-date=2023-02-02|archive-date=2022-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005092846/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zambchamp.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Coached by Moses Simwala, a number of prominent players ran out for Nkana during this time frame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zambianfootball.news/profiles/zambian-soccer-club-history/|title=Zambian Soccer Club History|publisher=Zambianfootball.news|access-date=2018-12-24|archive-date=2019-10-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027023129/http://www.zambianfootball.news/profiles/zambian-soccer-club-history/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Nkana were relegated from the top flight of Zambian football for the first time in 2004, and their period in Division One was plagued by financial problems.<ref name="faz_superleaguehistory">{{cite web|url=http://fazfootball.com/content/super-league-history|title=Super League History|publisher=FAZ|access-date=27 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217192905/http://www.fazfootball.com/content/super-league-history|archive-date=17 December 2018|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Nkana returned to the top flight after winning the 2007 Division One North title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2007/10/17/nkana-chambishi-promoted-to-faz-premier-league/|title=Nkana, Chambishi promoted to Faz Premier League|date=17 October 2007|publisher=Lusaka Times|access-date=24 December 2018|archive-date=8 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908005935/https://www.lusakatimes.com/2007/10/17/nkana-chambishi-promoted-to-faz-premier-league/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Nkana has won the MTN/FAZ Super League 13 times, most recently in 2020.
On 23 May 2014, head coach Masautso Mwale died in a road traffic accident on the eve of their home game against Séwé Sport of the Ivory Coast in Group B in the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup. The accident occurred near the Maposa area and his car was overturned several times as he was driving back to join the team in Kitwe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zambianfootball.co.zm/?p=10007 |title=Tragic loss!! Nkana coach Masauso Mwale dies |publisher=ZamFoot |date=2014-05-24 |access-date=2014-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904034227/http://www.zambianfootball.co.zm/?p=10007 |archive-date=2014-09-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Rivals== Nkana's arch-rivals are Power Dynamos F.C., who play their games at the Arthur Davies Stadium in the adjacent neighbourhood of Ndeke across the Ndola-Kitwe Dual Carriageway. When the two teams meet, the city is divided, and the fixture is named the Kitwe Derby or "El Kopala".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/nkana-versus-power-dynamos-kopala-derby-best-eleven/|title=Nkana versus Power Dynamos: Kopala derby best eleven – Zambia Daily Mail|website=www.daily-mail.co.zm|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-07|archive-date=2019-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409015510/https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/nkana-versus-power-dynamos-kopala-derby-best-eleven/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Achievements== * '''African Cup of Champions Clubs Runners-up:''' **1990 * '''Zambian Premier League: 13''' **1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2001, 2013, 2020 * '''Zambian Cup: 6''' **1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000 *'''Zambian Charity Shield: 18''' **1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020 *'''Zambian Challenge Cup: 7''' **1964, 1966 (as Rhokana United) **1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000 *'''ABSA Cup: 1''' **2018 *'''Heinrich Cup/Chibuku Cup/Heroes and Unity Cup: 5''' **1969, 1974, 1989, 1990, 1993 *'''Zambian Champion of Champions Cup: 2''' **1986, 1993
==Performance in CAF competitions== *'''CAF Champions League: 3 appearances''' ::2000 – Second Round ::2002 – Second Round ::2014 – Second Round
*'''African Cup of Champions Clubs: 9 appearances''' {{Col-begin}} {{Col-3}} ::1983: Semi-Finals ::1984: Quarter-Finals ::1986: Semi-Finals {{Col-3}} ::1987: Second Round ::1989: Semi-Finals ::1990: ''Finalist'' {{Col-4}} ::1991: Semi-Finals ::1992: Quarter-Finals ::1993: Quarter-Finals ::1994: Semi-Finals {{Col-end}}
*'''CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 2 appearances''' ::1998 – Quarter-Finals ::2001 – Second Round
*'''CAF Cup: 1 appearance''' ::1999 – Second Round
==Former coaches== * {{flagicon|Zambia}} Gaston Mutobo * {{flagicon|England}} Jeff Butler * {{flagicon|Zambia}} Beston Chambeshi * {{flagicon|Zambia}} Jericho Shinde * {{flagicon|Zambia}} Moses Simwala (1980–93) * {{flagicon|Zambia}} Patrick Phiri (1997–02) * {{flagicon|Zambia}} Ben Bamfuchile * {{flagicon|Zambia}} Kenneth Malitoli (2007) * {{flagicon|Zambia}} Masauso Mwale (2013–14) *Zeddy Saileti *Manfred Chabinga
== See also ==
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Zambian Premier League}}
Category:Nkana F.C. Category:Football clubs in Zambia Category:Association football clubs established in 1932 Category:1935 establishments in Northern Rhodesia Category:Kitwe