Zanaco and Arrows keep Zambia's CAF hopes alive

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Sep 19, 2021. 11:00

Zanaco are now Zambia’s sole hope of CAF Champions League group stage qualification following perennial league phase campaigners Zesco United’s shock preliminary stage exit on Saturday.

Zesco were eliminated on the first hurdle for the first time in the clubs’ continental campaign history stretching back sixteen years.

Their 2-1 home win over Royal Leopards of Eswatini on September 18 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola was not enough to save their souls and saw Zesco bow out on away goals rule following a 2-2 aggregate result.

But Zanaco easily advanced on the same afternoon at home in Lusaka after beating Akonangui of Equatorial Guinea 1-0 at National Heroes Stadium to advance to Octobers’ pre-group stage 3-0 on aggregate.

Striker Abraham Siankombo scored the games’ only goal in the 69th minute to seal Zanaco’s passage.

Zanaco will know their pre-group stage opponent late on Sunday evening when El Merreikh of Sudan host Ugandan champions Express in El Obeid.

Express lead 2-1 from the first leg played on September 10.

Meanwhile, Red Arrows also kept Zambia’s flag flying in the CAF Confederation Cup after drawing 0-0 away to Young Buffaloes of Eswatini on the same date.

Arrows advanced 2-1 on aggregate but have a big test against CD Primeiro de Agosto of Angola who enjoyed a preliminary stage bye.

Agosto will visit Arrows in the first leg on October 16 at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

Kabwe Warriors will be hoping to join Arrows in the second stage on Sunday when they host CFFA of Madagascar at Levy Stadium.

The two sides finished scoreless in the first leg played in Antananarivo on September 12.