CAFCC: ZESCO United should rise to occasion against Al Mary – Ndlovu

Zambia’s ZESCO United FC coach Mathews Ndhlovu has emphasized the importance of home-ground advantage when hosting Al Marsy in the CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) on Friday.

The tactician has since challenged his wards to rise up to the occasion against the Egyptian Premier League opponents.

🎞️ Le Résumé: Zamalek s’impose à domicile contre Zesco United FC 1-0.#TotalEnergiesCAFCC pic.twitter.com/Fd7NWoTLXW

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC_fr) November 24, 2025

The MTN Super League side opened its Group D campaign of the CAFCC with a 1-0 loss to Zamalek SC last Friday. Seifeddine Jaziri scored the lone goal of the match at Cairo International Stadium.

Now with home backing expected at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Ndlovu believes they can no longer afford to drop points.

“We need to utilize home-ground advantage. Even in the league, we have been utilizing that. This time, it is a matter of our team rising to the occasion at home to make sure that at this stage, which demands high standards, we are up to the task. To go far, you need to win home games,” the coach told CAF’s website.

“Playing more North African teams has given us insight into how they play. We just played Zamalek and now Al Masry, so we have to show that we mean business.

The overall team of ZESCO United means business, each and every player who is part of the team is able to deliver when given a chance. Time has come that now these others should rise to the occasion and perform for mother Zambia as well as deliver for ZESCO United.”

What ZESCO captain Lindo Mkhonta thinks about the match

ZESCO skipper Lindo Mkhonta has since rallied his troops to make history against the Egyptians.

“We want to emulate the 2016 class that reached the semi-finals; the group stage has taken us one-step there. It is a very tough group but whether they are from Egypt or anywhere they are still going to for 90 minutes with us.

We have worked very hard but the most important thing will be how prepared we are on the pitch,” Mkhonta said as quoted by CAF website.

Al Masry are the joint leaders of the group with Zamalek after beating Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 last Sunday at Suez Stadium.