Sensational ZANACO FC, one of the three stil surviving national flag bearers on the African safari, reached the Champions League first round after a 3-1 win away to Gambia’s Gambia Armed Forces . With the final tally ending in 6 -1 aggregate.

Travelling to West Africa with a healthy cushion of 3-0 from the first leg in Zambia, it would have taken a huge upset for Zanaco not to progress. Despite having a couple of scares, the big-hope for Zambia this season did just that with a second-leg triumph away in Gambia to deservedly match on to the first round were they will face Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland.

The early test for Numba Mumamba’s men came when the Armed Forces equalised before half time through Sanneh, cancelling out a 17th minute Ernest Mbewe opener for the Bankers.

The game was at par on the break.

The visitors came into the second stanza a more business minded battalion and was determined to stall the Armed Forces with their armoury.

Martin Phiri put them 2-1 ahead on the night on the 84th minute adding to his brace in the first leg and George Chilufya killed it all at the dearth of the game when he scored the third to lead 3-1 on the night , a deserved victory away from home to win 6-1 on aggregate ending any slim hopes of a possible upset.

Zanaco have started this season on a high and already pundit’s have tagged them as favourites to win the local league.

Zanaco should take a lot of positives from these two legged encounters for more confidence were they are hoped to beat their 2017 record of group stage.