Zesco battle to stay in the CAF Champions League

Jesse Were of Zesco United

Friday Sep 17, 2021. 16:10

We will redeem ourselves on Saturday says Zesco United striker Jesse Were ahead of Saturday’s must-win CAF Champions League home match against Royal Leopards at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Zesco heads into their preliminary round, final leg fixture trailing 1-0 from the September 11 first leg match played in Manzini after they were hit by friendly fire when defender Solomon Sakala scored an own-goal mid-way through the second half.

That result has left Zesco battling to avoid the prospect of a shock early exit from continental football.

The nine-time Zambian champions have never experienced continental elimination from the preliminary stage.

“Everyone is ready, the competition in training this week has been very tough and we have done our homework,” Were said.

“The main undoing for us in the first leg was not converting our chances but we have worked on that this week and I can foresee us emerging victorious.

“I know it will be a good game, Royal Leopards are a tough team and we respect them but coming home here in Zambia we have done our homework, we know what to do and what to execute on the pitch tomorrow to get the victory.”

The pressure is very much on Zesco especially that they were the only team out of Zambia’s four continental envoys this season to lose on match-day-one.

Meanwhile, Zesco coach Mumamba Numba has a full squad at his disposal but will miss defender Clement Mwape due to illness who was an unused substitute in first leg.

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