Blog: KK got it right against Morocco side

Nkana stepped up the gear and gave by far their best performance in continental football this season with a 2 – 0 win over TAS Casablanca on Sunday.

Midfielders Frederick Tshimenga and Obed Masumbuko handed Nkana the goals that put the Moroccans to the sword going into the second leg on Sunday.

Prior to this match, there were some fears that Nkana may disintegrate despite meeting a TAS side that is plying its trade in the second division of Moroccan football.

Those who feared for Nkana based their terror on that fact that Nkana have somewhat been unconvincing in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inter – club competition this season.

Nkana started the campaign in the Champions League where they managed to go past the preliminary round thanks to a 1 – 0 aggregate win over Bantu FC of Lesotho. They gave probably their worst display when they were held to a scoreless draw at Nkana Stadium in the second. This turned out to be coach Manfred Chabinga’s last game in charge.

In the first round of the Champions League, they were handed a stiffer opponent in Angolan side Petro Atletico and this spelt the end of the road for Nkana insofar as the Champions League is concerned.

In the first leg, Nkana drew first blood taking the lead through Harrison Chisala, but the Angolans managed to snatch the all important away goal at the death to draw 1 – all.

In the second leg in Luanda, Atletico managed a 1 – 0 win to relegate Nkana to the Confederation Cup, where they were pitted against TAS.

However, on Sunday Nkana showed their other side, which fans would want to see more with a flawless performance which was somewhat overshadowed by the heavy downpour.

While the Moroccans did not threaten much, Nkana showed anger and determination to make a meal out of this match ahead of the return match.

The Red Devils are enroute to North Africa for the return leg

In this match, Kaindu got his tactics on point managing to strike the right balance between attack and defence. Undoubtedly ahe was also helped by the experience of holding midfielder Misheck Chaila.

The former Zesco United player proved that he still has enough in his tank, dictating play in the middle of the pack against the lanky Moroccans while providing safe cover for the back four.

Wingbacks Gilroy Chimwemwe and Laison Thole were effective in their overlapping duties to help out in attack while the central defensive partnership of Richard Ocran and skipper Kevin Moyo did enough to thwart the little danger that the Moroccans posed.

It was a collective display by Nkana, attacking midfielder Duke Abuya linked up well with the attacking duo of Simon Mulenga and Tshimenga.

Had it not been for the waterlogged pitch, you can argue that Nkana could have harvested more goals. Regardless two unanswered goals are not bad going into the second leg.

The most passionate of Nkana fans will feel that their team is as good as being in the group stage now but the players are cautious of what lies ahead as they take on TAS in the second leg.

Skipper Kevin Moyo believes the job is not yet done.

“Not yet,” the Zimbabwean says when asked if Nkana are one foot into the group stage, “look we won 2 – 0 here [at home] even them they will say ‘we can score two or three goals’ so for us it is not yet done we have to go there with a game plan of building from where we have left.”

Moyo says TAS are not a bad team and underrating them going into the second leg would be Nkana’s biggest undoing.

“They depend on power play, they are big guys we just have to prepare and do our best so that we qualify to the group stage,” he says.

Second goal hero Masumbuko has been on song since Kaindu was appointed and believes Nkana have a chance to finish off the game away.

“The job is not yet done, we have to go and finish the match in Casablanca. It was not easy for us to carry the day we have to focus on the second leg,” he says.

The tie is clearly not decided, as history has proved that North African teams have a tendency of stepping up to the plate at home.

Nkana don’t have to look far for examples.

In 2019, Nkana beat Tunisians CS Sfexien 2 – 1 at home before going to freeze to a 2 – 0 loss in Tunis during a Confederation Cup quarter finals.

Kaindu has been spending the last few days working out on how to stop that from happening.

💻Zambia Daily Mail

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