Zambian club Nkana stretch unbeaten CAF home record to 64 matches
Monday February 15 2021
Nkana have won 45 matches, drawn 19, scored 137 goals and conceded 38 in the Champions League (formerly Cup of Champions Clubs), Confederation Cup, Cup Winners Cup and CAF Cup since a 1983 debut. PHOTO | FILE
Zambian club Nkana extended their record of never losing at home in a Confederation of African Football (CAF) competition to 64 matches when they beat Tihad Casablanca 2-0 on Sunday.
Democratic Republic of Congo-born Freddy Tshimenga gave the home team an 18th-minute lead and Obeddy Masumbuko added a second goal four minutes from time in central city Kitwe.
Tshimenga broke the deadlock by reacting quickest to a rebound and Masumbuko drove the ball into the net from the edge of the box.
The first leg result offers Nkana a realistic chance of winning the CAF Confederation Cup playoff, with the return match scheduled for Morocco on February 21.
None of the elite African clubs, including Al Ahly and Zamalek of Egypt, Raja and Wydad of Morocco, Esperance and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia and TP Mazembe of DR Congo, can boast unbeaten CAF home records.
Nkana have won 45 matches, drawn 19, scored 137 goals and conceded 38 in the Champions League (formerly Cup of Champions Clubs), Confederation Cup, Cup Winners Cup and CAF Cup since a 1983 debut.
The clean sheet against second division side Tihad was the 33rd at home in CAF matches for a club formed in 1935, currently captained by Zimbabwean Kevin Moyo and coached by Zambian Kelvin Kaindu.
Despite the remarkable record, Nkana have yet to win a CAF competition after coming close in 1990 when they lost on penalties to JS Kabylie of Algeria in the Cup of Champions Clubs final.
Rain halts match
Elsewhere, Enyimba edged Rivers United 1-0 in an all-Nigerian clash between clubs from southeastern cities Aba and Port Harcourt.
Highly-rated youngster Anayo Iwuala set up the only goal for Cyril Olisema after 59 minutes of a match temporarily halted by torrential rain in the first half.
Enyimba, the only Nigerian club to win the Champions League, were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes remaining when Tosin Omoyele was sent off.
In Accra, Asante Kotoko of Ghana fell 2-1 to Entente Setif of Algeria after wasting a late chance to equalise when Naby Keita had a penalty pushed over the bar by Sofiane Khedairia.
Prince Opoku gave the Ghanaian Porcupine Warriors a second-half lead that was quickly cancelled by Mohamed Amoura and Ahmed Kendouci struck the winning goal 10 minutes from time.
FC Platinum of Zimbabwe were another club who paid dearly for a fluffed penalty with Silas Songani having his spot-kick saved by Pape Ndiaye as Jaraaf of Senegal won 1-0 in Harare.
South African outfit Orlando Pirates are virtually certain to be in the 16-team groups draw after two late goals completed a 3-0 away victory over Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana in Gaborone.
National team captain and centre-back Thulani Hlatshwayo gave the Buccaneers from Soweto a half-time advantage and Linda Mntambo and Congolese Jean-Marc Mundele were the other scorers.
Record three-time Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia are another team seemingly assured of progressing after building a 4-1 lead over AS Kigali of Rwanda in Sfax, with Mohamed Soula bagging a brace.