Zesco United prepare to mark their 10th anniversary of their continental debut waiting to know who they will face in the 2016 CAF Champions League Group stage.
The Ndola side , who made their continental debut with a 2nd round placing in the 2006 Confederation Cup, on Tuesday mark another milestone in the clubs and Zambian football history.
Zesco go into the 14h00 draws in Cairo as the only Zambian club to have reached the CAF club cup group stage competition twice after finishing 3rd in Group A of the 2009 Champions League.
Interestingly, Zesco is the only club heading into the 2016 edition of the group stages that has never won the title.
The Zambian champions’ prospective group stage opponents include record 8-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt, their compatriots and five-time winners Zamalek including 2003 and 2004 victors Enyimba of Nigeria.
Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, DR Congo side AS Vita, ASEC from Cote d’Ivoire and Algerian club ES Setif, all with one win each, are also through.
Al Ahly is the only side in the draws that Zesco have faced before in the pre-group stage of the 2011 edition of the same competition.
Zesco drew 0-0 before losing 1-0 away in Cairo.
They were later relegated to the Confederation Cup last 16 where they sampled some Moroccan flavour in the form of MAS Fes whom they beat 1-0 but missed out on group stage qualification with a 2-0 away loss in Fes.
While Zesco have never faced Enyimba, they have played Kano Pillars in the 2009 Champions League group stage drawing 1-1 in Ndola and losing 3-2 in Kano.
Zesco also played Warri Wolves in the 2011 Confederation Cup pregroup stage losing 3-0 away and and winning 2-0 in Ndola.
Zesco also pride themselves has never losing to Cote d’Ivoire opposition in the 2009 Champions League last 16 drawing 0-0 in Abidjan before winning 1-0 at home to qualify to the group stage that season.
Zesco is equal to the task just avoid too many high balls and plan scoring techs like our winning pf.
Already upnd has started telling pipo in north western province that they will makw it a state on its own contholling its money from mines.can one call this one a president? Vote for lungu only the rest useless