Nkana FC’s six-game unbeaten streak in the MTN Super League ended on Sunday with a 2-0 loss to Zesco at the Levy Mwanawansa Stadium in Ndola.
With the win, Zesco moved up to second place in the standings, level with leaders Kabwe Warriors, who have 36 points after week 20.
Before last weekend’s games, Nkana was leading the table with 33 points but now sits fourth behind defending champions Red Arrows, who have 34 points.
Nkana’s head coach, Mwenya Chipepo, stated prior to Sunday’s game that other teams would find it difficult to overtake them at the top of the table. However, he admitted that the defeat was painful but remained optimistic about his team’s chances in the title race.
“It was a very difficult game. We also came here to win and unfortunately they had chances and they scored. So it’s a very painful loss again,” Chipepo told reporters after the game, adding, “I was very happy with the way our players played. They fought very hard but unfortunately, they couldn’t convert [their chances].”
The Nkana trainer is not ruling his side out in the title race yet. “The race is still on and we are remaining, I think, with 14 games. So it’s just a matter of working hard in the next coming game,” he said.
Chipepo has managed 12 Super League games for Nkana since taking over from Ian Bakala in October of last year, with 8 wins, 2 draws, and only 2 losses.
He moved Nkana from the relegation zone to the top four brackets. His team will face Napsa Stars on Saturday, hoping to make up for their defeat on Sunday.
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