By Kalumiana Kalumiana
Power Dynamos’ appetite for a 2025/2026 double will be tested today when they face Mighty Mufulira Wanderers in the 2026 ABSA Cup semifinal at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
This penultimate stage fixture is a 12h30 kickoff of today’s ABSA Cup semifinal doubleheader at Levy that will see two-time champions and 2025 runners-up Red Arrows face Chirundu United in the 15h00 kickoff.
Power head into the match in brisk form on two fronts of the Zambian football league landscape, where they are hoping to retain their FAZ Super League crown and topping it up with the ABSA Cup.
Power has not won the ABSA Cup since 2011, when it was still known as the Barclays Cup.
In retrospect, it was the last time Power actually won the double when they also clinched the 2011 FAZ Super League crown.
Since then Power has reached three ABSA Cup semifinals and as many quarterfinals.
Coach Osward Mutapa lost at this stage last season to Red Arrows and will be hoping for better outcomes this time around.
Power already holds the psychological edge over Mighty heading into the game after beating them 1-0 in the league in January away at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira.
It will be interesting to see how Mighty’s defence will handle Power’s free-scoring striker Moses Shumah, who didn’t score in that game but has been in form in their last 8 competitive games in which he has scored 14 goals.
Mighty on the other hand, are hoping to reach their first cup final since losing in the 2001 Coca Cola Cup final.
Meanwhile, in the late kickoff, Arrows face this season’s ABSA Cup giantkillers in the shape of FAZ National Division 1 side Chirundu United.
Chirundu eliminated Kabwe Warriors in the last 16 and Zanaco in the quarterfinal and now attempt to cause another big knockout against Arrows.
But Arrows have been in good form in this year’s edition, eliminating two lower-tier sides starting with Zambezi Portland, whom they beat 3-0 in the last 16, and later defeating Play It Forward 4-1 in the quarterfinals.
Arrows head into Saturday’s game aiming for a third successive ABSA Cup appearance after winning it in 2024 and finishing second in 2025.
