WHICH ZSL SIDE WILL CONQUER AFRICA? As the ZSL heats up with only 5 matches to go we take a look at 5 Clubs who still have a chance to get the two slots that will guarantee them continental Action and what impact they will have. ZANACO Continental History: ( 34 Games) 10 WINS, 10 Draws, 14 losses. 33 Goals scored and 36 Goals Conceded. Continental Form: Zanacos best Continental Campaign was in 2010 when the team knocked out Asec Abidgan and Enyimba reaching the Group Stages of the Caf Confederations Cup where the team ended the group in third place. Zanaco began its first campaign poorly in the 2001 Caf Cup getting suprisingy eliminated by Green Mamba of Swaziland on away goals after drawing both legs. Biggest Win: Zanaco 4-0 Enyimba ( Caf Confed Cup 2010) Biggest Loss: Zanaco 1-4 Esperance ( Caf Champions League 2007) Zanaco may do well and have only lost twice at home but the fact that Zanaco have never won away will weigh on the team. Zanacos constant chaging of the technical bench over the last 5 years also doesnt help with the stability of the team. POWER DYNAMOS Continental Record: ( 65 Games) 34 Wins, 14 Draws and 17 losses. 110 Goals scored and 68 Goals conceded. Continental Form Power Dynamos are the Caf Cup Winners Cup 1991 Champions and also reached the Cup Winners Cup Final on its first try in 1982. Power have not done well in Caf Competition over the last 15 years qualifying 3 times and reaching the quaterfinals of the Cup Winners Cup in 2003. Best Win: Power Dynamos 6-1 Saint Michel ( Caf Cup Winners Cup 1999) Biggest Loss: TP Mazembe 6-0 Power Dynamos ( CAF Champions League 2012) Power Dynamos have won 8 Continental games by 4 goals or more but the team has been largely inconsistent and will perform well in one year and badly in another. ZESCO UNITED Continental History: ( 32 Games) 15 Wins, 8 Draw and 9 Losses. 37 goals scored and 25 goals conceded. Continental Form Zesco United became the first Zambian Club to reach the group stage in 2009 and finished third in the group. Zesco United began Caf Competition modestly after they were suprisingly eliminated by Township Rollers 3-2 on aggregate in 2006. Zesco have qualified 6 times for Continental Competition and are undeafeted at home in 16 games. Biggest Win: Zesco United 5-0 Young Buffalos ( Swaziland). ( Caf Champions League 2011) Biggest Loss: Warri Wolves 3-0 Zesco United. ( Caf Confed Cup 2010) Zesco United have a squad with experience that includes the Zambias current highest Scorer in Caf Competition Winstone Kalengo on 7 Goals) and also Togolese International Defender Emmanuel Matthias. Zesco United players though tend to relax and that could be the teams undoing. NAPSA STARS Napsa Stars have no Continental History. They come from Lusaka around the same area as Green Buffalos who reached 5 Continental Quaterfinals and 1 Semi final. Napsa Stars have a large squad of 42 players and this brings good competition in the squad, Napsa also have an international feel with 4 Foreign Nationals playing in the team as well as several others pushing to join on trials. Napsa have done well since qualifying for the ZSL in 2012 winning the Barclays Cup and turning into a top 5 club. Napsa may find it tough in their first year if they qualify. NKANA FC Continental History: ( 108 Games), 52 Wins, 29 Draws and 27 Losses. Nkana FC are one of Zambias best Clubs in Continental Competition. Nkana have reached 1 Final, 5 Semi finals and 4 Quater Finals between 1981 and 1994. Nkana also belong to an exclusive club ( Al Ahly, Zamalek, Etoile Du Sahel) of teams that have gone 50 games unbeaten at home. Nkana FCs record now stands at 55 games Unbeaten at home with Nkana going over Al Ahlys record of 53 home games unbeaten. Biggest Win: Nkana 7-1 Mbabane Highlanders ( Caf Champions Cup 1992) Biggest Loss: Zamalek 5-0 Nkana ( Caf Champions League 2014) Nkana FC have huge pedigree when it comes to African football and have only been eliminated from Continental Football by North African sides with Africa Sports ( Ivory Coast) and Asante Kotoko ( Ghana) being the only non North African sides to ever eliminate Nkana. Twelve years away from continental football but in 2014 Nkana still made it to the group stage, the lack of a youth squad to include young players could affect Nkanas performance.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:36:09 +0000
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