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12 years ago, Zambia failed to qualify to Africa Cup of the nations in Tunisia–same year Zesco United were promoted to the top tier. Since then, Team Ya Ziko held some sort of Voodoo Jinx on Nkana–league record holders.

In 2016, Zambia failed to qualify to AFCON once again–same year Nkana scrapped their jinx against Zesco United. That makes the voodoo an intriguing story.

Unbeaten runs are there to be taken down, and then become meaningless. Aba Red are now grinning like an Indian betting manager on a weekend of upsets.

What amazed us all is the assuredness of Nkana fans. They held placard penned with these words “The Chicken to be slaughtered finally”; others carried physical Chickens alongside salt.

George “Chicken” Lwandamina was Zesco United guffer at that moment prior his departure to Yanga after this shocking loss. I guess this explains what Nkana fans were signaling on the placards.

It seemed the usual routine was going to persist as Idriss Mbombo put Zesco United ahead to silence the noisy and fully packed Levy Patrick Mwanawasa stadium.

Walter Bwalya–term leading scorer restored parity from the spot on the stroke to recess. After the break, the shortest man on the pitch–Simon Bwalya who had made his habitual to head in goals stretched the lead in synonymous fashion.

With just three minutes to regulation time, Walter Bwalya completed his brace to put the final nail on the coffin before Idriss Mbombo pulled one goal for Zesco United.

Assistant manager Zeddy Saileti, standing in for head coach Aggrey Chiyengi on national team duty, takes full credit for this historical event.

African football writer, covering the game across the continent. Covered the U-20 Africa Cup of the Nations, in Zambia.

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