CAF CC: Nkana beat Sfaxien but walk tight rope
Nkana 2-1 Sfaxien (Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba 36′, Freddy Tshimenga 52′ | Habib Queslat 84′)
Zambia’s representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup Nkana FC will carry a one goal advantage into the second leg of the quarter final after they beat CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in Kitwe.
Nkana will feel they should have gotten more from the game as they dominated the game and were leading by two goals into the last six minutes only to concede the all important away goal.
Bestone Chambeshi named a familiar line-up on the day and his team was looking good on the ball enjoying a lot of possession as Sfaxien sat back.
However, the break-through only came in the 36th minute after a determined ran from Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba saw him pounce on a deflected Duncan Otieno shot which he first fluffed but recovered to finish despite being on the ground.
Kampamba looked threaten and could have scored a second but he failed to make full contact when he was teed on the edge of the box.
He turned provider after the restart when he sent a ball into the box from deep in his own half which found the head of Freddy Tshimenga and the Congolese neatly finished for Nkana’s second in the 52nd minute.
Nkana were looking the more likely to score with Ronald Kampamba missing a chance at the near post after Ben Bahn had headed across the face of goal from a corner.
Sfaxien however took one of their rare chances when Bahn was beaten on the right side for the striker to find himself into the box and he laid the ball for substitute Habib Queslat who powered a shot through the legs of Kelvin Malunga in the Nkana goal.
The goal changed the narrative for Nkana as they will travel to Sfaxien with a slender lead and having conceded an away goal.
Nkana maintained their unbeaten in CAF Competitions at home and they end Sfaxien’s unbeaten run in the competition since the start of the group stage this season.
NKANA
16. Kelvin Malunga, 3. Ben Bahn, 4. Joseph Musonda, 5. Musa Mohammed, 9. Ronald Kampamba, 10. Walter Bwalya © (Shadreck Musonda), 11. Kelvin Kampamba, 20. Fred Tshimenga (Festus Mbewe), 26. Duncan Otieno, 30. Shadreck Malambo (Jacob Ngulube)
CS Sfaxien
30. Dahmen Aymen, 3. Heni Amoumu, 10. Aymen Harzi, 11. Ben Ali, 13. Achraf Zouaghi, 22. Kingsley Sokari, 21. Housen Dagdoug, 22. Firas Chaouach, 23. Hanza Jirass, 24. Hamza Mathlouthi, Nathir Kourouchi