By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –

• ZESCO striker Idris Mbombo (left) evades Nkwazi defender Chishimba Changala during the MTN FAZ Super League Week Six match played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday. Zesco won 3-0.
Picture by SAMUEL LUKHANDA

ZESCO United are 90 minutes away from repeating their 2009  feat  of competing in the CAF Champions’ league group stage if they avoid a 3-0 defeat against Stade Malien of Mali at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola today.
Meanwhile in Tunisia, Zanaco will be counting on pace and some touch of luck to get passed Stade Gabesien in the Confederation Cup in Gabes.
Zesco are carrying an impressive 3-1 advantage after the first leg played in Mali two weeks ago and they will look to finish off the tie this afternoon at 15:00 hours, as they officially become one of the first few teams to host a Champions League game on a Tuesday that will also be beamed live on Supersport.
The Zambian champions warmed up for this crucial tie with a comfortable 3-0 win against Nkwazi in the FAZ-MTN league at the weekend, giving them the much needed morale and confidence to finish off Stade Malien.
Coach George Lwandamina has warned his players against getting carried away with the 3-1 first leg win.
Lwandamina said the first half of the tie had been played and there was another half to be concluded before the team could think of competing in the group stage.
“That was just the first half; there is another half yet to be played. We have to wait until it is over, it’s not yet over. That’s what I believe in.
“They are a good side. They are a formidable side. We just have to do our homework right if we are to go to the group stage. If we become complacent we will be eliminated. Players should concentrate on the positives of their opponents to avoid being complacent,” he said.
His opposite Kamel Djabour has vowed to make it difficult for the home side and overturn the result.
Djabour warned that he had prepared his team well for the encounter and anything was possible after 90 minutes.
On-fire striker Idris Mbombo who is eyeing a golden boot in the tournament will be available to haunt the Tunisians after grabbing a brace in the first leg and Lwandamina will have to pick either Jackson Mwanza or Jesse to partner the Congolese.
The coach will also welcome back playmaker Cletus Chama and defender David Odhiambo who missed the first leg through suspension while captain Jacob Banda will be available in goal with Mwape Mwelwa and Chama alternating on the wings.
Gabesien v Zanaco
ZANACO will today seek to qualify to the pre-group stage of the Confederation Cup at the expense of Tunisian opposition Stade Gabesien when the two face off in the second round return leg in Tunisia.
Zanaco threw away a 1-0 lead at home in the first leg to draw 1-1 and complicate their passage to the next stage.
Coach Numba Mumamba will hope his charges replicate the form they exhibited in the first round when they outclassed Harare City at their backyard with a 2-1 win.
But today they face a Stade Gabesien side that is tactically disciplined and will be supported by the ever noisy home fans making the encounter even tougher.
However, Zanaco assistant coach Dabid Chilufya has remained optimistic that the ‘bankers’ have a chance to progress to the next round as they will be playing without pressure.
Zanaco will have to capitalise on the slow pace of their opponents which means the team will need to build their game around speedy midfielder Charles Zulu and striker Dave Daka to unsettle the physically superior Tunisians.
Rodrick Kabwe has shown great form since his recovery from injury and will be more reliable especially on set pieces while the combination of skipper Ziyo Tembo and Aaron Katebe needs to be airtight to avoid sloppy mistakes that led to the equaliser at Nkoloma stadium two weeks ago.
Isaac Chansa who had an inspirational game at home is likely to start to provide the much needed experience.