MY VIEW IN THE CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THIS WEDNESDAY
Zanaco Vs Wydad Casablanca
Heroes Stadium
15:00hrs
Zanaco’s winning streak came to an end on Saturday as they only managed a goalless draw at home to Nkana. This followed on from four consecutive victories which had revitalised their season after a very low key start. Prior to that winning streak they had drawn one against Red Arrows and lost one away at Green Eagles.
Their Champions League campaign though has been intact, drew two and won two, enough to see them to the champions league group stage. That draw away in Egypt can only be described as excellent but that’s what they have a done so far on the champions league this season, played well away and very poor at home. I hope that will this one will be different.
Wydad Casablanca lead the way with their perfect result at home on the first day against Cottonsport of Cameroon, but ZANACO are only behind by two points thanks to that spirited fight in Egypt. should they beat Wydad Casablanca at home then the possibility of leading the group on the second day is bright as Al Ahly travel away to Cottonsport .
Any success for now that ZANACO has had can largely be thanks to Ziyo Tembo and George Chilufya and the entire defence but special recognition for me is Toaster Nsabata who saved that last minute surge of Al Ahly. The ZANACO stopper saved ZANACO and ensured they travelled back home with a point. He was in command of the goal post, so backing him to start in the goal on Wednesday at 10/11 looks a very good option indeed.
ZANACO aren’t doing so well on the goal-scoring front. They have netted just twice in the Champions League this season and their top scorer in all competitions this term is Kennedy Musonda and Saith Sakala with three goals to their names, all those coming in the league. The two scorers in the champions league are Taonga Bwembya and Attram Kwame with a goal each. Three players have two goals and a number of the other players have one goal each, but those two are the only ones to have found the net in their qualifying round of Champions League campaign.
The form in the league is getting impressive and they sit top of the league on goal difference and find themselves with a point in the champions league group stage after game one.
They meet a Wydad side that is on a very good run in the domestic league. They seat top after 28 games having won 18, drew 9 and lost only once. Wydad Casablanca last lost a game in the champions league on March 18th by 1-0 away to Mounana , they had earlier beaten Mounana 1-0 at home. That game then went to penalty shoot outs which Wydad won to qualify to the group stage. In the league, their last loss was in December on the 30th. Losing 2-3 to Kawkab Marrakech .
Now that’s excellent form from the Morrocan team and they will pose serious threat to the Zambian champions .
This excellent scoring form of Wydad away and at home, combined with Zanaco’s obviously below standard striking force in this competition especially at home, edges my prediction towards a tough game on Wednesday. Wydad are justifiable favourites for this as well, so I’m backing a Wydad Win, scoring at least two goals, ZANACO has to react and give Zambian fans a first good response in this competition at home.
My Verdict Zanaco 1- 2 Wydad Casablanca
