NKANA, NAPSA SHINE
ZAMBIA's envoys in the CAF Confederations Cup, NKANA and NAPSA Stars beat TAS de Casablanca and Gor Mahia in their respective Pre Group stage fixtures to increase their chances of qualifying for the Group Stages of the CAF Competition.
NAPSA Stars punished Kenya's Gor Mahia 1-0 while Zambian champions Nkana beat TAS de Casablanca 2-0 thanks to Freddy Tshimenga and
Obeddy Masumbo's strikes in a fixture characterized with heavy rains at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Tshimenga put Nkana ahead 18 minutes into the first half while Masumbuko doubled Nkana's advantage four minutes before the final whistle as the Kelvin Kaindu drilled Kitwe giants triumphed in the absence of their passionate fans as the game was played behind closed doors.
The win maintained NKANA's unbeaten record at Nkana Stadium where the best results for visiting teams in CAF Competitions has been drawn.
Nkana will now need a draw when they visit Morocco next week for the return leg fixture slated for Stade Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, to make it to the Group Stage of the CAF Confederations Cup.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian international Daniel Adoko scored the only goal as NAPSA Stars FC increased their chances of making it to the Group Stages of the CAF Confederations Cup after the Zambian envoys stunned Kenyan giants Gor Mahia 1-0 in a Pre Group stage first leg fixture played at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Adoko scored in the 86th minute of a cagey game to give NAPSA the needed advantage ahead of the return leg fixture in Lusaka.
The win in Kenya excited the Pensioners led by Mohammed Fathi who hailed his charges for displaying a spirited fight in Kenya.
Fathi however noted that NAPSA will have to stay focused going into the second leg to achieve their target of reaching the group stages of one of Africa's most prestigious club competition.
"Business is not yet over. Football is an unpredictable game so we have to keep focus to finish the game in Zambia," Fathi said in a post match interview.
NAPSA will host the Kenyans next Sunday at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka with the winner in the two legged fixture matching on to the Group Stage of the Continental championship.