Zesco look to extend Champions League unbeaten away run
Zesco United coach George Lwandamina hopes they can extend their recent two-match unbeaten away run in North Africa when they travel to Tunisia to play Etoile du Sahel on Wednesday in a Caf Champions League Group D clash.
Zesco United head coach George Lwandamina EPA/KHALED ELFIQI *** Local Caption *** *** Local Caption ***
The 2007 winners host Zesco in Sousse in what will be the reigning Zambia champions and 2016 semifinalist’s first-ever trip to Tunisia.
Both Etoile and Zesco seek their first Group D wins after drawing their opening games last week.
Zesco were held to a 1-1 home draw by Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland in Ndola.
Etoile also had the same scoreline in Angola away to Primeiro de Agosto in Luanda to see Group D tied after the first games.
“Games are so different from one another. That is why train to see how best we can change the complexities of the previous result,” Lwandamina said.
Interestingly, Zesco have not lost on the road in North Africa in both competitions since Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco silenced them 2-0 in a group stage fixture on in June 2016 in Casablanca.
They also drew 1-1 away to record African champions Al Ahly of Egypt also in the group stage same year.
Zesco later returned to Egypt in the group stage of the 2017 Caf Confederation Cup where they also drew 1-1 with Smouha last year.
“It won’t be an easy game, North African teams have always been problematic to us. But in the recent past, Zesco has done well against them. I just hope and trust that we pick from where we ended the last time.”
Zesco are at full strength heading to Sousse with Lwandamina keeping faith in his entire team that drew against Swallows last week.
The only reshuffles have been made to the substitute personnel where Lwandamina has made three changes.
Burundi goalkeeper Diuedonne Ntibahezwa stays home and has been replaced by Lameck Nyangu. Lwandamina has also opted for back-up in midfield for the away game, dropping defender Bornwell Silengo and striker Logic Chingandu.
Instead, midfielders Misheck Chaila and Enock Sabumukama, who did not make the team to face Swallows, have made the trip to Tunisia.
Earlier on Tuesday, Swallows will face Agosto in the other Group D match in Manzini.
Fixtures, Tuesday:
Group A:
Kampala: KCCA (Uganda) vs Al Ahly (Egypt)
Tunis: Esperance (Tunisia) vs Township Rollers (Botswana)
Group B:
El Jadida: Difaa El Jadidi (Morocco) vs TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Setif: ES Setif (Algeria) vs MC Alger (Algeria)
Group C:
Casablanca: Wydad (Morocco) vs AS Togo (Togo)
Conakry (22 May): Horoya (Guinea) vs Sundowns (South Africa)
Group D:
Manzini: Swallows (Swaziland) vs Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)
Sousse (Wednesday): Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) vs Zesco (Zambia).
