Numba faces Lwandamina

Sun, 19 Feb 2017 09:22:22 +0000

Zanaco will play Lwandamina’s side Young Africans in the CAF second round

By Grace Chaile-Lesoetsa

A 17th minute goal by defender Taonga Bwembya was all that Zanaco needed to advance to the second round of the CAF Champions League competition to crush stubborn Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) 1-0.

After a dismal performance by the bankers in the opening fixture on February 11 at Nkoloma Stadium in which  APR forced a barren draw and seemed set to shatter Zanaco’s second round berth, the bankers rose to the occasion by scoring early and maintaining the lead.

The bankers set a date with George Lwandamina’s Young Africans who drew 1-1 against Ngaya de Mde of Comoros to advance via a 6-2 on aggregate after thrashing their opponent 5-1 in the first leg.

Zanaco started the match on a poor note but after 10 minutes, the Zambian envoys settled and created pressure for APR.

The Bankers survival came in the 17th minute when Bwembya planted his free kick in the right corner of the net while APR goal keeper Mvuyekure Emery remained rooted to the ground to silence the 30,000 packed Amahoro Stadium.

Zanaco’s search for a second goal before the break was cut shot as Seith Sakala and Fashion Sakala missed the target.

In the second half, coach Mumamba Numba replaced seemingly tired striker Attram Kwame with Kennedy Musonda with the hope of doubling the scores.

But the Rwandan side regained momentum and sent a scare to Zanaco in the 62nd minute when Bigirimana Issa’s shot missed the post by inches.

Zanaco remained concrete at the back with captain Ziyo Tembo encouraging his teammates to remain focused.

In a post-match interview, Numba said his boys played according to instruction and remained alert throughout the game.

He said was impressed with the way the players handled the pressure from the APR fans and focused on the target.

“The boys just needed to stay focused.

I am happy with how the played because it is never easy to steal victory on foreign soil,” he said. Lwandamina and Numba will renew their rivalry in the second weekend of March.