By SANDRA MWILA –
ZANACO will look to home cheer to lift them for the first time into the group stage of the CAF Champions League as they take on Tanzanian Young Africans today at the National Hereos Stadium in Lusaka.
A barren draw will be enough for Zanaco to qualify to the group stage as they carry a slim advantage from the first leg where they held Yanga to a 1-1 draw in Dar es Salaam.
The determined Yanga may not easily ‘chicken’ out as Zanaco’s coach has predicted a tough encounter in the must-win game.
It will be an interesting game for fans who will be reuniting with George Lwandamina, a former Chipolopolo and Zesco coach.
Zanaco go into this game with an away goal advantage and avoiding defeat will see them make the Group stage.

•ZANACO fullbacks Taonga Wembya (8) and Zimiliseni Moyo (4)need to keep Yanga wingers at bay during the second leg.

The bankers managed to snatch a point in Tanzania in the first round from an Attram Kwame second half equaliser.
A tough game it will be with Yanga who boast an experienced team and coach in Lwandamina who managed a Champions league semis spot with outsiders Zesco United last year.
Zanaco coach has refused to count on the vital away goal stating that Yanga are capable of doing the same in their back yard.
“The away goal we managed in Tanzania doesn’t matter, what we need is a positive result that will qualify us to the Group stage,” Mumamba said.
Mumamba said his team was ready for the encounter and has challenged his side to give in their all.
“No doubt Yanga is a good team and it will be a tough game and I have told my boys to sacrifice all their energies in this game,” he said.
He said the game will be a 50-50 encounter and that Zanaco will be ready for the game.
Mumamba’s squad has been boosted by the return of midfielder Boyd Musonda and goalkeeper Magani Banda who missed the first leg as they were participating in the Under- 20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Bankers will be without goal keeper Racha Kola who is suspended for this game after accumulating two yellow cards in the competition. It now remains a tossup between Toaster Nsabata and the Banda whose stock went up after the man-of-the match showing against Senegal in the AFCON final.
And Zanaco captain Ziyo Tembo is determined to trounce Yanga and avoid being relegated to the Confederations Cup.
Tembo said the morale in camp was high and that the team was ready to battle it off with Yanga.
“Every game comes with its own challenges but we just have impose ourselves on them,” he said.
Yanga coach George Lwandamina said both teams have the opportunity to go through to the next round depending on who wanted it more.
“Both teams have a chance to go to next round because they have an opportunity to play and the team that is more motivated will excel,” Lwandamina said.