By SANDRA MWILA and SAMUEL LUKHANDA –
Zesco United assistant coach Tenant Chembo was left fuming as he hopelessly watched his side survive elimination at the hands of Horoya AC in an incident-packed Champions League match to advance 4-3 on aggregate to the second round.
Chembo told fazfootball.com in a post-match interview on Sunday night that he was disappointed with the manner in which decisions were given against the Zambian champions.
“Horoya have a good team and in Ndola they played a good game. But in their own backyard, they were aided by decisions of the match officials.
“I do not mind losing, but it is the manner in which the decisions were made against us which was not good,” said Chembo.
SuperSport reports that Zesco went behind in the 10th minute when Daouda Camara gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot.
The visitors then suffered a double blow when Clatous Chama, who received his first yellow card on six minutes, was given a second yellow card as he was adjudged to have brought down Ocansey Mandela inside the box and Camara stepped up to convert the resultant penalty for the hosts to hold a 2 – 0 lead at the break.
Zesco will face Stade Malien who advanced with a 2 – 1 aggregate win over Coton Sport on Sunday. The Ndola side will qualify to the group stage if they beat Stade Malien over two legs while defeat will see them relegated to the Confederation Cup competition.
Meanwhile, Zanaco coach, Numba Mumamba has said his side will need to prepare adequately as Stade Gabesien of Tunisia would be a tough opponent in the CAF 2016 Confederation Cup.
“North African teams are never easy to defeat, we have to put our victory over Harare City behind and prepare adequately for the second round,” Mumamba said in a post match interview at Nkoloma Stadium.
Mumamba said he noticed some lapses in his team that needed to be worked on before the second round commences next month.
He said it was not easy beating City but was happy that his team rose to the occasion won the game after coming from behind.
“Our team did well, we rose to the occasion and won after conceding in the first half. But I am happy we equalised and got back in  the game. I am happy we have qualified to the second round, City are never an easy team to beat,” he said.
Captain Ziyo Tembo expressed happiness after scoring a brace which helped Zanaco qualify to the next round. Tembo said the team worked hard in training and will now focus on defeating their next opponents.
City coach Tawurayi Mangwiro tipped Zanaco to qualify to the group stage, saying the Zambian side can handle pressure as the competition progresses.