Nkana, Zanaco kick-off 2018 season

Zanaco and Nkana clash in the season-opening 2018 Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Memorial Charity Shield semifinals on Thursday at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

The match has been brought forward from March 3 to March 1 due to Nkana’s tight continental schedule.

Nkana will after the final whistle on Thursday head straight to the airport for Algeria ahead of next Tuesday’s 2018 CAF Confederation Cup against CR Belouzidad.

Thursday’s clash in Lusaka will be the second meeting between Zanaco and Nkana in the same competition.

Nkana beat Zanaco 3-0 in the 2017 semifinals and Walter Bwalya, Ronald Kampamba and veteran defender Joseph Musonda who all scored in that meeting are back to haunt Zanaco.

But Zanaco head into Thursday’s game enjoying a competitive head start in 2018 over Nkana.

Zanaco have so far played two competitive games in the 2018 CAF Champions League following 3-0 and 3-1 home and away wins respectively over Gambia Armed Forces FC February’s preliminary round.

Striker Martin Phiri, who joined Zanaco from Power Dynamos in January, will be in the spotlight again after scoring three goals in both legs against Gambia AF.

Nkana on the other hand are set to unveil striker’s Idris Mbombo and Festus Mbewe who are set for their first competitive game sincejoining the record 15-time Charity Shield winners in January.

Meanwhile, winner will face victor of Saturday’s semifinal at the same venue between Napsa Stars and defending champions Zesco United in the final also set for Nkoloma on March 10.