The Confederation of African football (CAF) on Friday, December 28th held the draws for the group stage of the CAF Champions League. Despite Zambian clubs being eliminated from the competition,Zambian interest remains in the form of players.
A number of Zambian players are still very involved in the competition namely Kennedy Mweene of Mamelodi Sundowns, Clatous Chama with Simba SC, Augustine Mulenga and Justin Shonga from Orlando Pirates and TP Mazembe trio of former Chipolopolo captain Rainford Kalaba, midfielder Nathan Sinkala and defender Kabaso Chongo.
The Copper bullets will not face each other at this stage. Chama and his Simba SC team mates have been drawn in group D alongside the most successful club in Africa Al Ahly of Egypt, AS Vita of DR Congo and Saora of Algeria.
Shonga and Mulenga will have to dig deep when they lead their clubs hunt for a place in the quarter finals as they come up against defending Champions Esperance de Tunis, Guinea side Horoya AC and FC Platinum of Zimbabwe.
The Mazembe trio will be up against Egyptian side Ismaily, Constantine and Club Africain in group C. On paper Mazembe are the clear favorites but African football is very unpredictable.
Chipolopolo first choice goalkeeper, Mweene and his Masandawana team mates were handed a tricky draw as they will have to face Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca, Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast and Lobi Stars of Nigeria for a quarter final spot.
Full Draw
Group A
Lobi Stars
Wydad
ASEC Mimosas
Mamelodi Sundowns
Group B
Platinum
Horoya
ES Tunis
Orlando Pirates FC
Group C
TP Mazembe
Africain
Constantine
Ismaily
Group D
Al Ahly
Simba
Saora
AS Vita
Let’s go Zesco , Nkana good luck to Pirates ,Chiefs, and Sundowns , God bless southern Africa , the next Giants of African football soon
Zambia National Soccer Team seem to be active in the names of Kalaba, Chongo, Sinkala, Mweene, Mulenga, Chama and Shonga. This is a good sign for our Country, please guys let us go forward and God bless.
God does not choose sides mune
Hard work chapwa