By Kalumiana Kalumiana
ZESCO United kick off match day two of their 2025/2026 CAF Confederation Cup campaign today when they host Al Masry at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola in a Group D fixture seeking a remedy at home to heal from last weekend’s wounds of defeat suffered after a bruising group stage start by both of Zambia’s two continental flag bearers.
Zambia’s two envoys Power Dynamos and ZESCO marked the country’s local clubs’ return to continental group stage action for the first time in four years with 3-0 and 1-0 away defeats RS Berkane of Morocco in the CAF Champions League and Zamalek of Egypt in the CAF Confederation Cup respectively.
ZESCO entertain Al Masry with contrasting starts to their Group D campaigns with the Egyptians coming to Zambia following a 2-1 home victory over Kaizer Chiefs in Suez.
With 5 games left after match day one action, Friday’s game is significant for ZESCO particularly since this is the first of their allotted three home Group D games that should traditionally count as points for the hosts.
Zesco co-trainer Mathews Ndhlovu has stressed this fact.
“The game we played against Zamalek is long gone and this time around we are focusing on Al Masry who have got another different kind of an approach towards the same competition we are in. So now we as ZESCO we are playing at home this time around. So our approach of course will be about how do we utilise the chances which we create and make sure that we are also disciplined at the back because it’s about points and each and every game we’ll be playing the points are very vital for us,” Ndhlovu said.
“More especially that when we are playing at home we need to make sure that we also utilise the home ground advantage and be free to perform to the fullest, more especially that even though our 12th man will be there. So our discipline will be tactical and of course making sure that we don’t concede and we work together as a team to mount pressure on the visitors so that we may also have a positive result.”
The margin of ZESCO’S away loss to Zamalek is somewhat reassuring heading into the match against Al Masry.
However, it is hard to state how Power will rebound tomorrow on Saturday night at the same venue against the defending CAF Champions League title holders Pyramids FC of Egypt.
Pyramids dismantled Nigerian club Rivers United 3-0.
Power must conjure something out of Saturday evening’s game because it’s the first of two successive Group A home games for them.
They will host Rivers United when the CAF Champions League group stage campaign resumes on January 23, 2026, and need the insurance of a minimum draw this Saturday to give them something to work on before next year’s match day three date in mid-January.
