Nkana head coach Kelvin Kaindu says his team is focusing on their CAF Confederation Cup pre-group stage second leg despite being halfway into the group stage following a 2-0 win in the first leg.
Kaindu believes his side was disadvantaged by the heavy rains on Sunday which prevented them from scoring more than the two goals they did on Sunday at Nkana Stadium.
Kaindu was speaking on Wednesday in Lusaka before departure for Morocco.
“We have picked almost the same team that represented us here. Our opponents are not a pushover, Yes we carrying a two-goal advantage but we were slightly disadvantaged by the weather, we could have scored more. Two goals are to our advantage and we hoping to keep the momentum. We believe in ourselves, it’s a hurdle that’s ahead of us, We are one step into the group stage but we still focusing on the game that we will be playing,” he said.
“Fitness-wise we are okay though the team we are playing are physically stronger than us even in stature and they believe in playing the ball forward and maybe just use strength,” he added.
The second leg at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca will take place at 21:00 hrs and Kaindu believes it will be to the advantage of the Moroccan side who are used to playing at Night. Kaindu is however hopeful his side can rise to the occasion.
“We are not used playing at night in the Zambian league but we had one training session at night at Arthur Davies Stadium on Tuesday. It’s to their advantage playing at night maybe because of the weather but we hope that we can also rise to the occasion,” he said.
“We respect all our opponents and football is not something you can say with certainty but the better team will carry the day. In terms of play, I think we sightly tactically, disciplined, and better than them, and maybe the style of play is different, They play a more physical game and mostly only come and challenge when there is a set-piece. We have seen the Stadium they are using it is playable and on the day we try and put the ball on the flow,” he added.
A goal each from Fred Tshimenga and Obed Masumbuko secured a well-deserved 2-0 win for Nkana in the first leg. The winner over two legs will progress to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
