By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA and SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

NKANA have expressed delight with the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) ruling that their African Champions League last 16, final leg tie against Zamalek be played in Cairo this Sunday despite security concerns in the Egyptian capital.
This is the third time in a space of 48 hours that the venue of the game has been changed since Nkana arrived in Egypt early on Wednesday morning.
Zamalek and Nkana’s CAF Champions League tie was initially scheduled to be held at the Cairo International Stadium on March 30 before it was moved to Haras El Hodod Stadium in Alexandria, 210 kilometres north-west of the Egyptian capital on the same date.
CAF said in an official communiqué released yesterday that all games involving Cairo based teams in continental competitions be played in the capital.
Delegation leader Jeff Chipilingu said in an interview from Cairo yesterday that Nkana were relieved that they did not succumb to Zamalek’s demands that they travel by road to Alexandria for the game.
“The development is that the game will be played in Cairo. We haven’t been informed of the stadium yet but the game is definitely going to be played in Cairo,” Chipilungu said.
“Imagine if we had arrived here and then travelled to Alexandria. But the position that we took that we needed to be sure of the situation has really saved us. And as things stand, the game will still be played behind closed doors unless there will be another development,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Zambia captain Dickson Makwaza has tipped Nkana to beat Zamalek but warned the Wusakile side to be wary of the Egyptian side’s counter-attack kind of play. He said it was possible for Nkana to go to the next round if they do their home work correctly.
“The secret to beating Egyptians is to be very careful as you go forward in attack, these guys are very good at counter attacks and Nkana must always leave enough cover behind” Makwaza told fazfootball.com.
And former Nkana player Jack Kafusha believes the team need to contain the Egyptians in the opening and closing minutes of each half.
Kafusha, who has played against Zamalek, stated that the Egyptians were dangerous in the opening 15 minutes and that is where they usually get their goal adding Nkana must be resolute and stand their ground.
Zamalek and Nkana are scoreless heading into the return leg match this Sunday in Cairo and the Zambian side needs a scoring draw or a win to advance to lucrative group phase that kicks off during the weekend of May 16.
The loser will go into the April 1 draw for the Confederation Cup knockout round that kicks off during the weekend of April 25-27.