Zanaco coach Wedson Nyirenda has said he is hoping for the same improved form from his charges as they face CS Sfaxien in their fourth game in the Caf Confederation Cup mini-league stage.
Zanaco and Sfaxien play on Friday evening in Sfax at 20:00 Zambia time just seven days after the Zambia club beat the two-time winners in their third Group B game in the Confederation Cup.
The two teams are tied on four points with Zanaco third and Sfaxien second and two points behind leaders FUS Rabat of Morocco while Haras El Hodoud of Egypt are bottom on two points.
Nyirenda said playing three Arab teams and collecting four points from three games has been challenging considering they were the only sub-Saharan country in Group B.
Zanaco started off with a 1-0 away loss to FUS and later drew 1-1 against Haras in Lusaka before their debut mini-league win at home over Sfaxien last weekend.
Nyirenda described the experience as a learning curve and that he was delighted with the rising graph with each game Zanaco played.
“It has been so challenging. I think we have not won the first two games because the players were not sure of the teams they were playing,” Nyirenda said.
Nyirenda added that it was critical that his team stay focused in Tunisia on Friday with two games to go thereafter in Zanaco’s quest to finish in the top two places in Group B that guarantees qualification to next month’s semifinals.
“Now that we know who we are facing and what to expect I think it is much easy,” Nyirenda said.
“We know what to do now than our previous games we will do better in our next matches.”
I have not seen any improvement in zanaco`s performance. it was pure luck they won the last game. all departments need to change their mind set. you cant be giving away the ball in the middle and up front of the field like that when you even know that your friends have more pace than yourselves. let your opponents fight for the ball by the time they have the ball they cant run that fast.;)