Super League: Bwezani’s top four projection
Zesco United and Zanaco have clinched the CAF Champions League slots but two more slots for the CAF Confederation Cup are still up for grabs.
Red Arrows, Kabwe Warriors, Green Eagles, Prison Leopards, Lusaka Dynamos, and Nkwazi are the teams battling for the two CAF Confederation Cup places. The race to qualify for the available CAF Confederation Cup has become a lot more intense in the last few days. With one game left to play, six teams will get into the weekend games thinking that the Gods of football may turn to them for fortunes and make it into Continental football.
The results over the weekend ensured that this fight will go right to the wire, with Red Arrows and Kabwe Warriors failing to produce a winner from that contest meant the two teams will still have to wait for the last day to celebrate CAF qualification.
That slip-up allowed Green Eagles, Lusaka Dynamos, Prison Leopards, and Nkwazi to re-enter the picture. With one round of games to play, six clubs are vying for just two slots, I repeat.
But then even Green Buffaloes and Buildcon could also say they have an outside chance.
Here are the teams fighting for the CAF slots:
Red Arrows
Despite losing one game in the last six with one draw, Red Arrows remain third in the league, two points above Kabwe Warriors and three above the other four teams chasing CAF. But then these two teams in Red Arrows and Kabwe Warriors are the only two clubs in this race who’s destiny is still in their own hands.
Chisi Mbewe should have fumed to his players after the game against Kabwe Warriors and will be demanding a response against Zanaco on the last day.
While Zanaco may play with some freedom as a result of their qualification into the Champions League, the fixture looks like a cup final for Red Arrows.
Red Arrows’ game against Zanaco on the last day of the season is tough, but Chisi Mbewe will take solace from the fact that a draw will be enough and they have been very good against Zanaco on the last day of the leagues.
My intuition still tells me this team will manage finishing in those two positions Especially that even a draw will be enough.
Kabwe Warriors
Kabwe Warriors’ run-in is a stinker and it looks even tougher after their 2-0 loss to Prison Leopards before that draw away to Red Arrows. On the last day, Kabwe Warriors dates a coachless Indeni as Mwenya Chipepo won’t be anywhere near the bench.
Indeni has this game as a final as it is the game that could decide their fate in the super league.
Will Indeni win to survive relegation or they will lose to go down. Kabwe Warriors looks to have a very big possibility to make it.
After these two teams, we have four teams that are on 47 points and they will be looking at Kabwe Warriors and Red Arrows to drop points and have an opportunity of taking advantage.
Green Eagles
It remains to be seen just how important that win at home to Forest Rangers was to Green Eagles as they travel to Lumwana Radiants this weekend. They are in a good position to make it through things are out of their hands with all the four teams that are 47 points. Their goal difference looks very positive and Red Arrows could be in trouble if they lose and Green Eagles beats Lumwana Radiants. That’s what is interesting.
Let’s get into the mind of Aggrey Chiyangi, the message from him will be a clear one. “We have come from very far and no one gave us a chance, let’s get this one and play CAF, we would have given ourselves a big season;” (Note these are my words in the mind of Aggrey)
Prison Leopards
This is amazing, when we thought they would be relegated, they are almost ending on the CAF points of 50. Their goal difference is not bad but of course not in their hands. They would be hoping for Red Arrows and Kabwe Warriors to lose to have any chance.
Next Fixture: Green Buffaloes v Prison Leopards
Lusaka Dynamos
Lusaka Dynamos’ remarkable pursuit for a top-four finish was given a huge blow with a loss away to Power Dynamos and now this leaves Wedson Nyirenda and his boys hoping to beat Young Green Eagles with at least four goals when they visit Young Green Eagles in Choma. Wedson Nyirenda’s men will be hoping for a scalp against a team that is fighting relegation and they too know that this is the game that has relegation written all over the fixture.
The newly-promoted side will be the form team but what makes it complicated is the change of venue from Khosa stadium to Choma.
Nkwazi
Nkwazi can reach 50 but the goal difference of 2 is just not inspiring and hence they are a team that for me will not be thinking they will make into CAF. It will be asking for too much.
MY ANALYSIS
It’s been a long run of 33 games and one more to go it looks so right that Red Arrows and Kabwe Warriors get the remaining slots as they are the only teams that have a bigger say. That’s my call at the end of the season, it so looks like the following four teams
Zesco United – Champions and CAF Champions League
Zanaco– CAF Champions League
Red Arrows – CAF Confederation Cup
Kabwe Warriors – CAF Confederation Cup