Football Round-up: Mixed Fortunes In Continental Fixtures For Zambia

Zambia Super League teams encountered mixed results in Africa’s continental competitions this weekend. Zanaco have failed to reach the group stage of the 2021/22 CAF Champions League after being eliminated by Al Merreikh of Sudan at second playoff stage.

Despite beating their Sudanese opponents 2-1 at home in Lusaka on Saturday, the result was not enough for the Bankers after they lost the away leg 3-0, making an aggregate 4-2 loss. 

Aware they had a mountain to climb after the first leg in order to qualify, Zanaco put in a brave performance. They went 1-0 down to a Edjomariegwe Tony Omayarue’s strike, but this was cancelled a mere nine minutes later by attacking midfielder Emmanuel Manda.

Abraham Siankombo then grabbed the winner for Zanaco just four minutes away from full time, as they never allowed their heads to drop. Nevertheless, the Lusaka-based outfit now drop down into the CAF Confederation Cup. 

On a more positive note for Zambian football however, Zanaco will be joined in the final qualifying round for the Confederation Cup by Red Arrows.

The Arrows drew 0-0 away in Angola to Premeiro de Agosto to advance 1-0 on aggregate to next month’s knockout round that will determine who competes in the group stage of Africa’s secondary continental club competition. 

The first legs matches for this final qualifier are set for the weekend of November 26-28, and the second legs for December 3-5.