Saturday Feb 19, 2022. 16:00
Zanaco coach Kelvin Kaindu admits they cannot afford another loss when they host Pyramids FC of Egypt this Sunday on match-day-two of the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
The Bankers host the big spenders from Cairo at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka exactly a week after kicking off their Group A campaign with a 1-0 away loss in Tunisian against CS Sfaxien.
Zanaco were on the verge of earning a point on February 13 in Rades only to concede a stoppage time penalty and lose 1-0 to Sfaxien.
The result left Zanaco bottom of Group A, Sfaxien are second on goal difference behind Pyramids who beat Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya 2-1 in Cairo on the same date.
“I think this is a very important game for us and we know the type of opponent we are playing,” Kaindu said.
“We are coming from a loss against Sfaxien and I think it was a bit painful and probably the least we could have come out of that game was a point after conceding late in the game in the 97th minute.”
Meanwhile, Zanaco and Pyramids renew acquaintances for the first time since the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals.
Pyramids beat Zanaco 3-0 at the same venue in the first leg but lost 1-0 at home in Cairo en route to a runners-up finish.
“Tactically we were good away and I just hope the tactics we will employ at home will be to our advantage,” Kaindu said.
“The approach against Sfaxien was different because we were playing away from home and the approach against Pyramids will obviously be different.
“We are coming from a loss and we want to catch up with the teams that are on three points.”
Zanaco has one absentee ahead of Sunday’s Group A game in midfielder Moussa Souleymanou who was substituted in the 90th minute of the match against Sfaxiend due to an injury.
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