By MICHAEL MIYOBA
FORMER Chipolopolo coach Wedson “Wada Wada” Nyirenda has urged Zambian teams competing in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup to stay focused to reach the second round of the continental competitions.
Nyirenda said there is need for the four teams – Nkana, Forest Rangers, Napsa Stars and Green Eagles – not to go to sleep after recording positive results in the first legs of the preliminary rounds played last weekend.
NAPSA Stars have started on a high in the CAF Confederation Cup following their 1-5 rout of Ngazi in the Comoros while in Burundi, Green Eagles were held to a 2-2 draw against Musongati.
Forest Rangers were held to a goalless draw by Gabonese side AS Bouenguindi at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, while Zambian champions Nkana beat Lesotho’s Bantu FC 1-0 thanks to Idris Ilunga Mbombo’s goal.
Nyirenda who leads Super Division outfit Lusaka Dynamos as head coach said all the four teams need to give their best in the return leg to make it through to the next round.
“Napsa got an emphatic win and we just want to see something more back home. The other team drew 2-2 and they have the advantage but they should not go to sleep because that can turn against them,” Nyirenda said.
“Nkana won away against Bantu FC so they have to come home and grace their fans they haven’t been doing so well in the local front so they just have to satisfy their fans back home because those people are not satisfied.”
Nyirenda said Forest Rangers have a lot of work to do away from home after recording a goalless draw at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
With Napsa having already secured qualification to the next round following the empathic 5-0 win over Ngazi, Nyirenda said players from Forest, Eagles and Nkana have to be professional to contain the pressure and pick positive results.
Nyirenda said anything is possible with all the teams capable of qualifying to the next round of both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup.
Napsa Stars, Nkana and Green Eagles will this weekend host their opponents in the return legs while Forest Rangers are in Gabon for the re-verse CAF Champions League fixture against AS Bouenguindi who are the favourites to move to the next round after they left Ndola with a point.
‘DON’T GO TO SLEEP’
