By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA-
NKANA today need a scoring a draw to reach the group stages of the 2014 Confederation Cup when they face Club Athletique Bizertin in a return leg at the at the Stade du 15 Octobre in Bizerte.
The two sides are scoreless from the first leg played on April 19 at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe as the Zambian champions extended their winless competitive woes to six matches that stretch back to March 8 when they beat Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) of Uganda 2-1 away in Uganda.
Coach Masautso Mwale insists Nkana can pull off a surprise in Tunisia despite their CAF Champions League exit when Egyptian side Zamalek eliminated them 5-0 on aggregate after a scoreless first leg draw in Kitwe.
“Our game against the Tunisians is very, very different from the game against Zamalek and in fact they are two different competitions. I believe in my players. I believe we will be redeemed, we just need to play for our country,” Mwale said.
The pressure is also on strikers Simon Bwalya and Ronald Kampamba, who have scored three continental goals each, to get back on score sheet and impress.
Bwalya and Kampamba have failed to find the target since March 8 and March 1 respectively as Nkana extended their winless and barren run to six games.
Bwalya added to Mwale’s statement saying the will pull of a surprise in Tunisia.
“Personally I am very ready for this game because our aim is to reach the group stage so I am very focused and will work hard to score for the team. We will play attacking football and maintain our discipline
and our strategy is to score a goal and we will be done,” Bwalya said.
Nkana have been boosted by the availability of defender Billy Mwanza who shrugged off a groin problem he sustained in the first leg.
Meanwhile, Bizertin coach Nabil Kouki said he was still treating Nkana with caution.
“Despite this zero-zero draw it is still a fifty-fifty game. Yes we have a chance to win at home in Tunisia at our stadium and in front of our home fans because my philosophy is to win,” Kouki said.
Bizertin need to beat Nkana knowing a score draw will see the visitors through to the May 16 group stage. A scoreless draw will see the match decided on post-match penalties.