Zesco United scraped through to the second round of the CAF Champions league by the skin of their teeth when they lost 2 – 0 away in Conakry Guinea to fell back on the cushion of the 4 – 1 win the first leg to qualify on a 4 – 3 aggregate scoreline.
With head coach George Lwandamina left behind to drill the national team, one would think Zesco had everything under control but hostilities of West Africa came to the fore and the game plan for the Zambian champions started to fall apart as early as the 10th minute when Horoya were added a penalty which they converted.
Moments later star midfielder Clatous Chama was given a red card for a second bookable offence and Zesco now had to reorganize to cover for the gap left by Chama.
Things seemed to be going from bad to worse as Horoya were awarded another penalty which saw them add another goal in the 40th minute to go into the break needing only a goal to peep Zesco to a spot in the second round.
However, some resolute defending on the second half so the Ndola based side hold off a fierce challenge.
Zesco media reported that over 9 minutes of the referee’s optional time were played at the end of the game but the Tenant Chembo coached side held on to seal qualification with significant lessons picked.
Zesco will now play Stade Malien of Mali over two legs for a place in the lucrative group stages of the competition with the first leg slated for Mali on the weekend of 8-10 April 2016 in Bamako.
Zesco’s win seals qualification for the two Zambian teams playing in Africa after Zanaco earlier in the day beat Harare City 3 – 1 to qualify to the second round of the CAF Confederations Cup via 5 – 2 goal aggregate.
Zanaco play Stade Gabèsien of Tunisia in the second round.
Zesco XI v Horoya AC
Jacob Banda – Simon Silwimba, Ben Adama Bahn, Dauti Musekwa, David Owino, Anthony Agay, Clatous Chama, Misheck Chaila, Idriss Mbombo (Kondwani Mtonga), Jesse Were (Jackson Mwanza), John Chngandu (Mwape Mwelwa)
Well done guys. The 1st cut is the deepest, u win at home then put the nail in away games.
Thanks be to God for helping our team zambia qualifieng to de next stage of de competitions. Zesco u have to improve on de away games.
Bola sana guys ofyotulefwaya ifyo well done
Correct me if am wrong,thought Zesco now faces Cotton sport of Cameroun who pipped Stade Malian by 2-1 agg.
Aggr. Stade Malien Bamako 2 – 1 Cotonsport
Sat 12/03/16 Stade Malien 2 – 0 Cotonsport
Sun 20/03/16 Cotonsport 1 – 0 Stade Malien
Thanks Zamfoot!
Correct zamfoot
Wow. This game sounds like the referees were working extra hard to get Horroya through. Or maybe those who watched the game can tell me otherwise.
ZESCO LOSE FIRST AWAY GAME IN TWO
YEARS, PLAYERS ATTACKED AND VIDEO
DELETED
Zesco lost their first away game since
2014 going down against AC Horoya
2-0 in Guinea. Zesco United players were also attacked by AC Horoya fans
with midfielder Teddy Akumu
sustaining a head injury from stones
which were thrown on the pitch. Zesco
United’s Camera Man was also harrased
and the camera he was filming the match with was confisticated and the
video of the match deleted. AC Horoya
won the game after scoring through
two penalties and Zesco United
midfielder Cletus Chama was sent off.
And reports indicate that 12 minutes of extratime were played after the referee
had indicated 6 minutes extra time.
For those who don’t know how playing
some games in African Football
operates. The reality is that referees are
bought to win games by some teams. The referee awards fake penalties and
sends off players from the other team
and makes sure that the other team
wins at all costs, this is because the
referee is paid some of the money and
the remainder is only paid after the referee delivers the win for the paying
team. Furthermore the home team
makes sure that the match is not
captured on film so that the referee can
operate and cheat with no evidence of
it. If anyone is seen recording the camera is confisticated and the footage
is deleted. This is a reality and many
cases have been documented and
referees banned.
I urge Zesco United to take this up with
CAF. Strong indications are that the Match was rigged.
bwana that is west africa for u, zesco shuld prepare more for that
C8ngrats zescolo for showing strong mentality. Prepare the same in Mali.
well done guys wishng u o de best as u wil b trvering to mali.
This is what you get in west africa.it is very sad to note that CAF thinks the best football is played in west and these referee cases go unpunished.however, well done ba zesco.
ZESCO should buy Ozil and Rashford from Arsenal and MAn Utd respectively. Even Pepe can do at defence, kaili batulilafye mane
Rubish west africa refs
This really makes sad reading although not unexpected. Something really needs to be done. This is football and not war. Where is CAF and later on FIFA. These behaviors shouldn`t go unreported. At least for the records. Bravo Team ya Ziko.
Guinea, that Ebola infested country should be banned.
Waiting to hear the finding of an investigation. Despite the fact that I would pledge my support to Zesco I would disagree big time with those suggesting that playing more minutes than the signalled referee’s optional time was a way of cheating. No…no….no. The truth of the matter is that if the fourth official signals 6 minutes of extra time then the minimum time the game must be played is 6minutes.This in turn implies that the game can go beyond 6 minutes. Let us teach our players the right thing lest we loose games just before they end.
Maximum & minimum re totally different in meaning. No need to twist the meaning the two words boss, injustice was done to Zesco & we have every right to talk about it& no need to go softhearted about it.6munites z not equivalent to 12minutes.we all watch bola& know what it means added time to any game being played.mutubepe!
There was drama in this match. Two penalties and a red card!! Good to hear Zesco survived.
Lets hope we can get the real info on what went down in Guinea.
They had to “fell back” on the 4-1?