Zesco United interim head coach Emmanuel Siwale has labeled Wednesday’s league clash against FC Muza at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium a must-win encounter. This comes after Zesco’s narrow defeat to Power Dynamos over the weekend, a result that widened the gap between the two teams to six points and dealt a blow to Zesco’s title ambitions.

“It’s a must-win game. You know what has happened—we have dropped points, and we can’t afford to do that again,” Siwale emphasized.

With only five games remaining in the season and 15 points still up for grabs, Siwale remains adamant that the title race is far from over. The coach, who took over on an interim basis following George Lwandamina’s departure, insists that his team must focus solely on securing maximum points at home.

“This is football; the league is not yet over. Our target is Muza—we just have to collect maximum points. Whatever happens beyond that is not our concern right now. Our focus is on winning the Muza game,” he stated.

Zesco’s scoring problems

Zesco United have struggled in front of goal this season, managing only 28 goals—making them the lowest-scoring team among the top three in the MTN Super League. In comparison, league leaders Power Dynamos have netted 47 times, while third-placed Nkana have scored 40 goals. Siwale reacted to his team’s inefficiency in finishing chances.

“That has been our problem. We are a team that creates a lot of chances, but unfortunately, we don’t put the ball into the back of the net. Like in the Power game, maybe that’s what cost us the match. We have worked on it, and we hope to bury our chances tomorrow,” he said.

Despite the setbacks, Siwale remains hopeful of clinching the league title, maintaining that the battle is still open.

“Like I have said, the league is not yet over. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” he concluded.

Zesco United will be looking to bounce back and keep their title hopes alive as they take on FC Muza in what promises to be a decisive encounter.

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