Nkana Advance In African Champions League

Zambia’s Nkana FC advanced to the first round of African Champions League despite playing to a goalless draw against Bantu of Lesotho in a match played in Kitwe on Saturday evening.

The Zambian club will face the winner between Petro Atletico of Angola and Equatorial Guinea’s Akonangui FC.

Bantu had their more illustrious opponents on the back foot for most of the return leg, but Nkana held out after they barely won 1-0 in the first leg a week ago.

The A Mats’o Matebele started brightly with Tshoanelo Koetle testing Talbert Shumba in the 20th-minute and the Nkana keeper made a superb save to keep his side in the game.

Soon after the half-hour mark, Nkana nearly conceded following a miscommunication between Gift Zulu and Harun Shakava but Shumba hit the wrong side of the net.

Idris Mbombo was all over the place giving Bantu a torrid time and he combined with Abuya and Ackim Mumba but Thabiso Lichaba went down to make a good save.

The visitors had the chance to break the deadlock just before the break but Jokotjokwana saw his powerful strike turned away by Nkana shot-stopper Talbert Shumba, before Kalake Hlompho saw his shot crash against the crossbar.

Nkana nearly got off to the perfect start in the second half but Thabiso Lichaba was at his best to deny Duke Abuya on 58 minutes.

It was all Bantu after that with Litsepe Marabe getting the very best out of Shumba in the 66th minute. The Buccaneers midfielder burst into the area and looked sure to score but Onyango’s fingertips pushed the ball onto the post at out of danger.

Motlomelo Mkwanazi and Sefali Tshepang squandered further chances for the visitors before Kalake Hlompho missed a gilt-edged chance to claim a win with five minutes of regulation time remaining.

After dancing his way past Jimmy Dzingai he only had the goalkeeper to beat but could manage to drag his resulting shot wide of the Red Devils goal as the two teams shared the spoils.