Zesco United bowed out of the 2016 CAF Champions League at the semi final stage when they lost 2 – 0 (3 – 2 on aggregate) against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
It was a less than fluid performance by the Zambian champions who conceded as early as the 5th minute when Anthony Laffor blasted home in the box after a poor clearance.
Perry Tau added a second in the second half when he headed home from close range.
The closest Zesco came to scoring was when Jackson Mwanza saw his well taken effort come off the cross bar.
Sundowns will play either Zamalek or Wydad Casablanca in the final.
Zesco United XI
Jacob Banda – Simon Silwimba, Ayo Oluwafemi, David Odhiambo, Ben Bahn, Misheck Chaila, Clatous Chama (Mwape Mwelwa), Kondwani Mtonga (Irish Mbombo), Jackson Mwanza, Jesse Were, John Chingandu (L Kambole)
weldone Zesco it was a good fight zambian football won’t be the same.am now convinced Jacob Banda to be our first goal keeper he made brilliant saves he has grown up
I feel Chicken would have done better. He was too comfortable on the bench, but Mosimane was standing throughout. The coach needs more international exposure but i think he is almost there. FAZ should consider sending local coaches for international courses in coaching.
Sundowns technical bench did a very good homework and had a clear game plan. Zesco had no game plan, they just went in hoping luck will be on their side. Pitso studied the Zesco game and we saw it on the pitch. Lwandamina has told us before that he doesn’t watch football he reads books so I’m sure he didn’t bother to watch any of the opponents games on SS. Zesco must replace Jacob, Awino and Bahn, the three are the weakest link in the team!
Zesco should have killed off the match in Ndola but the players are too amateurish, they certainly do not mean business when on the pitch and they leave too many holes in defence. George Chicken, having been a defender should have done well to tighten the bolts
“Gallant” is an overstatement. These competitions are won at home. Zesco should have killed the game at home.
Zesco’s mistake stared when they allowed a call goal
Sitting in the stands yesterday evening at Lucas Moripe stadium I was extremely disappointed with what I saw. That game was won and lost by the tactical disparity between the two sides. Sundowns has a coaching structure that can compete at this level and Zesco doesn’t. How do you play the same way (long balls) for the entire 90 minutes? The midfield was completely overrun. The only players who could be talked about was Mwanza and Odhiambo. Chaila tried but is this the player to play in central midfield for chipolopolo? I must admit my faith in Zambian coaching is almost destroyed. There was only one tactical and high level side on the pitch and it was not Zesco. We are still coaching from the 70s in Zambia and we need to change that otherwise the Zimbabwes and Namibias will overtake us if they have not done so already. Mamelodi controlled the game start to finish there was nothing gallant about that display. Deeply disappointed.
@amuna onzuna well spoken. sundowns were the more technical team and kn3w wat they wanted. zesco it was all about chipante pante and hoping for a miracle. chicken is a lousy couch shud have played 4-2-3-1.
@ngake. well summarised. just watch the ZPL and see the chipante pante
then we are going no where. Chipante pante. No brain?
Well done ZESCO! You tried. On the other hand Zamalek have cone back from the dead. Anyone know if Emmanuel mayuka is still playing for them??
Lastly Leicester teammates Riyadh Mahrez and Slimani may play in Nod when Algeria visit soon.
Well done ZESCO!. On another note Zamalek have come back from the dead..does anyone know if Emmanuel mayuka is till paying for them?
lastly Leicester team mates Riyadh Mahrez and Slimani may play in Ndola soon for Algeria.
Getting to the semi-final of a continental completion is no easy feat, congrats Zesco.
That said or lack of plan B killed us in this game. It was very obvious we did not take the time to study our opponents. Sundowns took Jesse Were out of the game quite easily. He ended up dropping too deep or playing out on the wing just to get some space hence for large spells he played out of position. Sundowns knew who to cut out to cut out the goals. On the other hand Zesco should have known coming into the game that the Sundowns game plan would be centered around Billiat and Keegan Dolly. These two are he heartbeat of the team. Take these two out of the game and scales tilt in your favour but Billiat had so much space, Kegan kept beating our guys for pace. Billiat played a role in 90% of all the Sundowns attacks and yet for large sells had so much space. Big up to Zega but the coaches should have taken a bit more time to understand the individual players and know which ones are game changers.