11/05/2026
2026 ABSA CUP CHAMPS JET BACK IN GLORY AFTER THRILLING NDOLA FINAL
The Zambia Air Force (ZAF) sponsored side and the 2026 Absa Cup champions, Red Arrows Football Club, have arrived safely in the capital after their triumphant cup winning Mission Ndola.
The victorious Airmen touched down at ZAF Lusaka Air Force Base at exactly 11:39 hours Lusaka time, where they received a rousing welcome from the Air Officer Commanding TAMCOM, Brig Gen Aliphar Phiri alongside scores of jubilant Red Arrows supporters who gathered to celebrate their victory.
The Airmen were crowned 2026 Absa Cup Champions after defeating Power Dynamos 2 - 0 in a thrilling final played yesterday, Sunday, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Arrows produced a disciplined and determined performance, combining sharp attacking play with resolute defending to overcome their rivals and lift the prestigious trophy in front of a vibrant Ndola crowd attended by Minister of Sports and Youth, Hon Elvis Nkandu, Zambia Air Force Commander, Lt Gen Oscar Msitu Nyoni, FAZ president, Keith Mweemba and Absa Bank Zambia Managing Director, Mrs Mizinga Melu.
Now back to the game, many fans and neutrals arrived at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium with their scripts already written. The league champions, Power Dynamos, were tipped to complete another grand chapter in their campaign and social media 'specialists' and commentators had also made their narrative that Arrows were going to receive a good beating. But the Airmen kept a secret plan and would go on to prove them all delusional.
The Airmens' supporters came through in belief and filled their sections with confidence, drums rolled and expectation hung heavily at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Now football has a cruel way of tearing paper predictions into confetti. By the time the final whistle of the final was blown, those scripts had been ripped apart, rewritten, abandoned and buried beneath a red wave as Red Arrows executed “Mission Ndola” to perfection, dismantling Power Dynamos to unbelievable 2-0 before a mixed crowd of Power, Arrows and neutral fans to lift the 2026 ABSA Cup crown in commanding fashion.
But truth be told, Arrows played good and commanding football and in fact, there was never going to be failure once the Air Force Commander, Lt Gen Oscar Msitu Nyoni, himself had deployed and rallied behind the Airmen.
Besides, the symbolism was impossible to ignore. The Airmens' arrival in Ndola with military precision was just enough morale boost while their tactical discipline and aggression in the game stitched into every movement.
From the opening whistle, Chisi Mbewe’s men looked like a side carrying classified instructions only they themselves understood.
They passed the ball brilliantly, intercepted fearlessly and marked relentlessly. They fouled when necessary, dribbled daringly and crossed dangerously into attacking areas.
They created chances, wasted a few frustratingly but most importantly, they scored goals decisively when it mattered most.
On the other end, Power Dynamos, usually so fluid and authoritative, were denied rhythm, denied space and ultimately denied glory.
And Red Arrows nearly struck as early as the second minute when Allasane Diaara forced Lawrence Mulenga into an important save. It was the first warning shot fired of the final.
Moments later, slick interplay between Zephania Phiri and Albert Kangwanda almost opened the floodgates, only for the final touch to betray the Airmen.
Power Dynamos struggled to breathe under the relentless pressure. Red Arrows were playing and the creativity of the Kitwe giant was nowhere near the marcher.
Cross after cross flew dangerously into the Power Dynamos box while Kangwanda and Ackim Mumba tormented the flanks with pace and intent.
Joseph Phiri came close with a tame finish before Lazarous Chishimba’s killer instinct nearly carved the champions apart.
But then, the breakthrough finally arrived at the stroke of halftime. Alassane Diarra had picked the ball near the centre line, raced with it lonely and sent in a speculative cross.
In the box stood John Soko, under pressure, he failed to clear decisively and Joseph Phiri roared with a powerful shot that Lawrence Mulenga parried back inside. A rebound then fell kindly and the unmarked Albert Kangwanda reacted quickest, rocking the stadium with a composed finish that sent the red end into delirium. And 1 nil at halftime it was...and the song was 'we are all red arrrrrrrrrowss and we belong to Zambia Air Force....'
The second half came and the Airmen continued to press for the winner. On 53' a poor clearance by Dominic Chanda, gifted the lively Lazarous Chishimba an invitation he could never decline. The quiet midfielder unleashed a noise and thunderous strike beyond Mulenga to make it 2-0 and in that very moment, Mission Ndola appeared practically complete.
Power Dynamos, though punched, continued chasing and searched for answers, but every route they used was blocked by disciplined red shirts. Chifundo Mpasi supplied dangerous deliveries but were mostly handled by Arrows backline. A promising opportunity came with the substitute Ronnel Manyanga's fierce effort rattling the upright, and that was the closest they could come.
Arrows later brought in Saddam Yusuf Phiri for Lazarous Chishimba, Angel Lubamba for Joseph Phiri and Godfrey Ngwenya for Ackim Mumba. At this time, it was not a matter of more goals but management.
And the Airmen would go on to seal the day with their 2 goals much to the frustration of everyone in yellow. And even the heavens appeared to salute the occasion as a timed flypast soared above Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, a fitting military signature on a solid performance built on the Commander's order and ex*****on.
After the final whistle, jubilant Red Arrows coach Chisi Mbewe hailed his side’s fearless approach.
“We knew it would not be an easy game against the league champions but we wanted this trophy very much for our sponsors and supporters,” Mbewe said.
“It is a sweet victory. It feels like we have won the league. I was happy with how aggressive we were and the way we controlled the game from the first whistle up to the last. Credit goes to the team,” Chisi said.
The Air Force Commander also joined the celebrations, proudly declaring that Red Arrows were the “true champions” because they had defeated the reigning Zambian Super League Champion on the grandest domestic cup stage.
After all, when the Air Force Commander deploys his troops and the mission is clear, defeat becomes impossible.
Even Aaron Katebe, the Power Dynamos defender nicknamed 'commander' must have realised that this time, the real Commander (Air Force Commander) had arrived to personally cheer on his troops from the stands and there was no way they could command a win.
In the end, Ndola danced through the night while the neighbouring Kitwe stood stunned and well “sanitised.”
And Shombo, the yellow clad dancing faithful, flanked by Power fans, disappointedly vanished into the darkness clutching his undressed broiler chickens, as countless pre-written headlines quietly found their way into the bin.
Then in new bold inks emerged the only Absa story that mattered, the Airmen story..."Red Arrows are the 2026 Absa Cup Champions."
And maybe, just maybe, this victory not only secured silverware for Airmen, it also brought social media to bed, ended the long running debate and pre-match noise surrounding the clash, as Red Arrows proved their quality on the biggest stage and of course on the pitch.
Meanwhile, K1.1 million successfully has been delivered today in the Capital after a flawless Mission Ndola as the Airmen celebrated yet another memorable chapter in their history. ✈️🏆
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