From FELIX MALUNGA
in Abidjan, Ivory Coast –
ZESCO United yesterday started fine-tuning for tomorrow’s crucial CAF 2016 Champions League tie against former winners, ASEC Mimosas here with some recovery training at Parc des Sports Stadium after jetting into the Ivorian capital on Sunday night.
With an eye on the semi-finals of Africa’s prestigious club football competition, coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina took the Zambian champions through their paces on the synthetic turf of Parc des Sports.
Lwandamina received a clean medical bill from his 18-man contingent with the players raring to go against Ivory Coast’s most successful club, who boast of 24 league titles.
After the morning work-out, Zesco were later yesterday expected to have a feel of Stade Champroux, the venue for tomorrow’s Group A clash.
Team manager, Mabvuto Banda said the players were all in top condition and morale was high in the squad.
“This is a must-win for us because a victory will almost secure our passage to the semi-finals,” he said.
ASEC coach Siaka Traore is expected to make some changes to his squad as he seeks to avenge the 1-3 humbling the Ivorians suffered at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Traore will be welcoming back captain Mahan Marc Goua, who missed the Ndola fixture due to suspension. During Goua’s absence, Yannick Zakri captained the side.
ASEC are also expected to field Ibrahim Kone and goalkeeper Herve Kouakou, who both could not make the Ndola trip.
The local ASEC fans here believe their team will get maximum points and derail Zesco’s surge towards making Zambian football history.
Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca lead the group on seven points followed by Zesco on six points, with ASEC on three while Al Ahly have one point.