ZESCO – Nkana clash for the first time in CAF

ZESCO UNITED VS NKANA
Levy Mwanawasa Stadium
18:00hrs

Zambia has been a fairly seasoned campaigner on the football field of play over the years. Both at senior team level, junior and club competitions. And known so on the continent.

But with all the histories unarchived, not many people if any would have guessed a collosal match up in the continental safari, that two local giants would be tussling out against each other.

These kinds match up unwrittenly a preseve of teams mostly from North Africa especially Egypt. But here we are.

Zesco United will be taking on Nkana FC, not in the Barclay’s Cup, not in the FAZ/MTN SUPER league match, not in friendly match or charity match. It’s the CAF Confederation Cup group stages match. The first of its kind in Zambia, Potentially not many nations on the continent have had this massive previledge.

It goes without saying, games like these don’t come any bigger than this. You see these things happening in European championships, Bayern Munich vs Borrusia Dortmund, Manchester United vs Chelsea FC, Liverpool vs Chelsea etc.

Maybe just maybe one of those Egyptian teams meeting, the likes of Arab Contractors vs Zamalek vs Al Ahly etc. But this is Zambia.

Nkana is a, seasoned campaigner in the CAF tournaments but recently Zesco United has shown that they have the abilities to do as much as any Zambian team can or has ever done. Of course there are some subtle records that they need to shutter on the Zambian football scene for them to join the ranks of Nkana, Mufulira Wanderers, Power Dynamos etc.

Though that does not take away the fact that their exemprary performances in the recent years in CAF matches, is by far the reason we are having evenings match up.

Both Zesco and Nkana have experienced contrasting fortunes in the previous games. Zega Zega is hoping to dust out the ghost that has been marauding in the camp that has seen Nkana dominate them in the last few matches.

Zesco United and Nkana both had potentially difficult assignments in pre-group qualifiers. Zesco knocked out South African giants in Kaizer Chiefs while Kalampa made shortworks of Ivorian side San Pedro.

Overlooking the recent successes Nkana has posted against Zesco in the local matches, I would go for Zesco to carry the day this evening. With Lazarous Kambole and Jesse Were upfront, they almost guaranteed of goals.

On the other hand Wusakile boys are sweating on the fitness of talisman Walter Bwalya to be fit for the encounter. The followers would be excited to see him out and about another sure goal scorer.

My Prediction: Zesco United 3 – 2 Nkana FC