The ABSA Cup is the only top tier cup competition in the Zambia Premier League drawing participation from Super Division and National Division One sides.

It was founded in 2007 as the Barclays Cup through the sponsoring bank and has run consistently yearly.

With Barclays Bank transition to the ABSA in the 2019-2020 period the competition assumed the latter’s name.

Zesco United are the record title winners having emerged champions six times with Power Dynamos in a distant second having lifted the trophy twice while Nkana, Napsa Stars, Red Arrows, Zanaco and Green Buffaloes have won it once.

The competition attracts participation from top six Super Division sides at mid-season and top two ranked National Division teams.

The Charity Shield is an important fixture in the football calendar as it symbolizes the beginning of the football season. It has aptly been titled the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield in honour of Samuel Ndhlovu, a Zambian footballer who also served the Zambia National Team as captain and coach. He led Mufulira Wanderers Football Club to many league and cup triumphs and was named Zambian Sportsman of the Year in 1964.

The football season commences with the traditional season opener being an iconic match between the previous season Premier League champions and the most recent Absa Cup champions. The match would ordinarily take place the weekend before the commencement of the league and sets the tone for the league season.