After waging relegation fights for much of the 2023–24 season, Nkana Football Club—one of Zambia’s most decorated clubs—looks to be cruising to safety.
Nkana has won the Zambian league, a record thirteen times with numerous other accolades in their trophy cabinet.
Nkana came close to winning a continental championship in 1990, but they were defeated by JS Kabylie of Algeria in the previous Champions League (Cup of Champions Clubs). In CAF football, the Zambian Club has achieved a remarkable record of 64 home games without a loss.
In contrast to the first half of the season, Nkana, the former ABSA Cup champions, are a completely different team as they drew 0–0 at home against Zesco United last weekend.
The technical bench under head coach Ian Bakala, according to assistant coach Sipho Mumbi, came up with the adage “if you cannot win, you should not lose.” As a result, Nkana has won two of the last five league games in April and drawn three of them.
Two wins over (Konkola 2-1), (Power Dynamos 0-2) including three nil-all draws against Prison Leopards, Nkwazi and Zesco United. This impressive outcome has pushed Nkana to 10th position on the log with 38 points.
“Topflight football is our main target”-Mumbi.
Mumbi says the squad is dedicated to remaining in the top division by securing survival at all costs.
“We have been in the doldrums for the past six-seven months, there is so much improvement in this squad” Mumbi stated.
“Survival is very much attainable, that is why we are saying if we can’t win, we cannot lose” he added.
Nkana’s last four matches include an away fixture against Green Buffaloes before hosting Kansanshi Dynamos, Kabwe Warriors away then Zanaco at home.
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A win over Nkana will see the Buffaloes 13th on the log with 36 points leapfrog the Kitwe side. In the first clash between the two sides Nkana won the match 2-1.
