Zambia’s represantatives in the 2016 CAF Confederation cup Zanaco welcomed Stade Gabesien of Tunisia at Nkoloma Stadium this afternoon.

Aaron Katebe and Isaac Chansa returned for the bankers after being excluded from first round against Harare City.

Zanaco could have taken an early lead in the 4th minutes with Rodrick Kabwe missing a seater after being set by Charles Zulu from the left flank.

A reply by Gabesien came three minutes later when Hachem Essif sent the ball to Ahmed Hosni whose cheeky shoot beat goalkeeper Racha Kola but Fuckson Kapumbu was at right place to make a goal line clearance.

The deadlock was blocked by the hosts after, squandering lots of Chances.Charles Zulu set Portpher Zulu with so much space in front of the goal,but failed to beat Gabesien goalkeeper.Rodrick Kabwe picked the rebound outside the box to slot home and put Zanaco in the lead.

Zanaco had the bar to be indebted to when Essif smashed the lower bottom of the left bar denying Gabesien to be even before halftime recess.

Coach Numba Mumamba decided to withdrawal Portpher Zulu for Fashion Sakala on the stroke of first half.The decision by the Zanaco guffer seemed to be working in second half when Sakala singlehandly teared Gabesien’ defence.

Parity was restored after an hour mark when Hosni Ahmed’s opened fire from a tight angle on the left corner to beat Racha Kola.

Dismal decision by the banker’s technical bench to withdrawal first half substitute Fashion Sakala.

Essif would have stretched the visitors lead but was denied by the bar for the second time.In the end 1-1 was the scoreline.

A very tall mountain to climb for the Zambian outfit ahead of the second leg in Gabes.

James Sibeleki

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