The new CAF club rankings have been released after this season’s inter-club competitions reached the semi-final stage.
The appalling development is that Zesco United are NO LONGER among the 78 ranked clubs on the continent, this happening for the first time since 2016.
From reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League just nine years ago, Zesco now no longer even have a place among African clubs to compete in continental football.
In the recent past seasons, Zesco been knocked out by less-fancied opposition like Royal Leopards (Eswatini), Dynamos (Zimbabwe) & Royal AM (South Africa) all at the first hurdle.
These eliminations have simply demonstrated Zesco’s decline in African football and it is no whammy that they are now out of the top 78 on the continent.
One cannot hold back from being befogged when you hark back to the time Justin Mumba engineered the club’s rise to compete neck-and-neck with the likes of Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, TP Mazembe, Wydad Casablanca etcetera and what has become of the club today.
What could be even more devastating is the fact that the decline could even extend on to the local scene.
A reality not to shy away from is that Zesco will for the fourth season running, go without a league title after giving away the title to Power Dynamos this season.
There is need for urgent attention.
[Wami Katanga]
They looked satisfied having qualified for the World cup.