Zanaco midfielder Isaac Chansa says Zesco United have set a high bar for them to beat in the CAF Champions League.
Zanaco head into the 2017 CAF Champions League with the pressure of emulating their predecessors Zesco’s feat in the 2016 edition of the competition when they reached the semifinals.
It was also the first time a Zambian club had made it past the group stage in continental club competition.
“Obviously our expectations are very high and it won’t be easy,” Chansa said.
“We have to do very well especially that Zesco put up a brilliant show this season.
“So we are going into it underpressure going to beat Zesco’s feat.
“But it won’t be easy our preparations will determine as well, we have to prepare adequately.”
Zesco is also the only Zambian club to have played in the CAF Champions League group stage.
Zanaco and Nkana have featured in the CAF Confederation Cup group phase in 2010 and 2014 respectively.
Meanwhile, their will be a tougher route to glory starting in 2017 following the revision of the two continental tournament formats.
Both the 2017 Champions League and Confederation Cup group stages has been expanded 16 teams of four groups and will include two more knockout stages before the final.
And so the race the group stage will be fought over three preliminary knockout rounds to decide the 16 teams in the group stage.
The top two finishers from each group will advance to the knockout stage for a place in the quarterfinals that have been added to the previously straight semifinal qualification when it was an eight-team group stage format.
Mwanya ba Zanaco
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