Luanda: The Satellite television operator ZAP is returning to broadcast matches of the Angola First Division of the National Football Championship (Girabola), five years after the initial partnership between 2016 and 2020.

According to Angola Press News Agency, the announcement was made on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Angolan Football Federation (FAF) in Luanda following an agreement between the National Association of Angolan Football Clubs (ANCAF) and the television network. The broadcasting will commence in the current 2025-26 season.

Joo Lusevi Kueno, head of ANCAF, stated that the partnership establishes a shared commitment to improving quality, increasing visibility, and promoting the competition. He also mentioned that ZAP will ensure the production, promotion, and broadcast of the Girabola exclusively on the “Z Sport 1” channel, using advanced technology and standards of technical excellence.

Kueno outlined that the television broadcast will be expanded in two phases. The first phase will focus on matches taking place in Luanda until December 2025, with a commitment to regular broadcasts for each matchday. The second phase, beginning in 2026, will include broadcasts of matches in provinces outside Luanda. He expects the agreement to bring benefits for clubs and players, preserving competitive balance and strengthening the cohesion of the national championship.

The partnership also opens up Girabola’s international future, offering high-quality distribution and licensing, in addition to the markets where it operates, which include Angola and Mozambique.

The 47th edition of the National Championship (Girabola 2025-26) officially begins on September 20, jointly organized by the FAF and ANCAF. This collaboration begins the transition to a Professional Football League in Angola, a vision that has been anticipated for over a decade. However, Interclube will face Kabuscorp on Tuesday in anticipation due to the latter’s involvement in the African Confederation Cup.