Nkana FC missed a golden chance to go into the final round of Zambia Super League matches on top of the table after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Red Arrows on Saturday.
Seeking to add to their 12 previous championship wins, the last of which came in 2013, Nkana may be left to rue their inability to see off the challenge of Arrows, a result that left a number of their players in tears at the final whistle.
The end of the curtailed Super League season has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, which in all likelihood might have meant Nkana’s final day opponents next week, Nakambala Leopards, would not travel for the game, handing them the three points.
So to go into the final game of the campaign on top of the table would have all but guaranteed the team the title. But the day did not start well for the visitors as Arrows took the lead inside the first minute as Joseph Phiri netted, before veteran forward James Chamanga added a second just before the hour-mark for the home side.
Nkana needed a reaction and found it in skipper Idris Mbombo, who netted a quickfire brace to draw the score back to 2-2, though they could not go on and find the winner.
“It’s so painful to give away points in such a manner,” Mbombo told reporters. “We didn’t start well, we conceded very early in the game, we wanted to win this game in order to have a realistic chance of winning the title.
“Now we just have to play well against Nakambala and see how results go elsewhere.”
Defending champions Zesco United also stayed in contention as they claimed a 1-0 victory at Lusaka Dynamos.
It wasn’t the most convincing display from Zesco, who profited from an own goal by Poso Mayenga as he headed into his own net from Jesse Were’s cross.
“This is an important result for our team. We came here to collect maximum points and that’s what the boys have done. We were not in any form of pressure. Our focus was to deliver,” Zesco assistant coach Alfred Lupiya said.
“Our minds have already shifted to the last game against Red Arrows. We are going back home to prepare for this important fixture.”
The other game on Saturday saw Kabwe Warriors claim a 1-0 victory over Lumwana Radiants, while the match between Kansanshi Dynamos and Green Eagles was postponed at the request of the hosts and it is unclear at this stage what will happen with those points.
NAPSA Stars lead the Super League with 48 points from their 26 matches, followed by Nkana FC (47 from 26), Zesco United (46 from 26), Forest Rangers (46 from 25), Green Eagles (44 from 25) and Zanaco (42 from 25).
Forest Rangers have a big chance to climb to the summit of the table when they visit Power Dynamos on Sunday.
The Football Association of Zambia have declared that the Super League season will finish after the 27th round of matches due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with those games scheduled to be played on Wednesday and Thursday.
©Mzansi Football
