The year was 1990, a Zambian side Nkana on blink of incising their name in the record book of CAF Champions league winners–the top tier of club football in Africa.

Nkana Red Devils started like a house on fire, with a 4-1 win over Ugandan Express, on aggregate, before coercing Arsenal FC of Lesotho 8-1; home and away in first round.

In the quarterfinals, the phase later converted to group stages, before returned as quarterfinals again in 2017, Nkana were paired with Racing Baffousam of Cameroon.

They marched on to the semifinals with a 3-1 win over Baffousam on aggregate. Their last-4 assignment was done with much easy–beating Heartlands FC of Nigeria 2-0 home and away.

Then, came a moment, that could always be making Nkana fans grin like an Indian betting manager on a weekend of upsets. A moment that now would be used to counter-punch taunts from their arch rivals, Power Dynamos, who remains the only Zambian side to be triumphant in continental football: 1991 CAF Confederation Cup.

However, the golden opportunity was squandered in the final against JS Kabylie from Algeria–an encounter that resisted to be settled on home and away basis. One-all on aggregate, and then penalties, Nkana lost 5-1; all hopes dashed.

JS Kabylie in 1990 | Image by Football Bible.

Zambians were to wait for another day, year, decade or century to land the CAF Champions league. The wait is still onn, but for how long?

The Dawn of new era

Turning the clock back in the early 2000s, it seemed “pigs should fly for starters”, and then a Zambian side can win the biggest prize in Africa club football.

However, the dawn of a new era popped out, inform of Zesco United, who made it to the group stages of the 2009 CAF Champions for first time in history. Then, followed in 2016, when “Team Yaziko” looked more determined but unfortunately fell, with just one call away from making it to the final–a painful semifinal exit at Mumelodi Sundowns in South Africa.

Zesco United in 2016 CAF Champions league semifinals clash against Mumelonid Sundowns.

The desire of Zambian clubs to advance in continental football is boiling. In this year’s CAF Champions league, a least fancied Zanaco is nigh to stun powerhouses: either Wydad Athletic club or record holders Al Ahly for a quarterfinal berth from the group stages.

How far from landing a CAF Champions league title?

Football Assiciation of Zambia President, Andrew Kamanga reckons winning either the CAF Champions league or Confederation Cup is not farfetched to Zambian football clubs.

“They are not fartfetched. Over the years we have always waited for the North Africans to take a lead. But now the competition is quite open to even the Southern African teams.”

“So far, the teams from Cosafa have done well. A good example is Sundowns who have won the cup last year, from South Africa.”

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The paradigm shift of performances by Zambian clubs in continental football, is a sign of greater things to come.

The Impressive runs in previous years, including the 2014 Confederation Cup group stages finish by Nkana, could cement the needed points for the MTN Zambia Super league to break into the top 12 in the CAF 5-years rankings.

This means that, going forward, 4 football clubs from Zambia would be eligible to participate in both CAF Champions league and Confederation Cup.

It’s not a secrete weapon, that winners of the Champions league originates from countries that are ranked in the top 12 by a criteria know as “CAF 5-year rankings”. Indeed the moment that will see Zambian people putting their hands on the prestigious silverware in African club football, is getting closer.