Mbewe: Arrows CAF Champions League Exit is painful

Red Arrows coach Chisi Mbewe has described the Zambian champions’ early elimination from the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League as very painful.

Arrows on Sunday drew 1-1 away with Angolan club Primeiro de Agosto in Luanda, but that preliminary stage, final leg result was not enough to keep them in the race.

The Lusaka club bowed out 2-1 on aggregate after losing the first leg 1-0 on September 10.

MBEWE’s WORDS

“I would say it is a painful result being eliminated from the Champions League,” Mbewe said.

“But we put in everything, and we scored early and thought we were back in the game, but unfortunately, we allowed an easy goal.”

Striker Ricky Banda broke his drought for this season in his seventh competitive game when he put Arrows ahead in the 7th minute.

But Agosto replied seven minutes later when striker Jiresse Mawiya equalised for the hosts.

“We need to utilise and ensure that we finish our chances on our home ground,” Mbewe added.

“Now we shift our focus to the league. We will strategise and keep going.”

Arrows, who have never qualified to the league phase of continental competition, make an early exit after reaching the pre-group stage of the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup.

Coincidentally, Arrows last season eliminated Agosto in the second stage of the CAF Confederation Cup before Simba SC of Tanzania ended their continental dreams in the third round.

Meanwhile, Arrows’ exit leaves Zambia with just one representative in continental competition this season.

Zesco United will be hoping for a better showing in the CAF Confederation Cup when they enter the competition in the second round in October.

The Ndola -based club enjoyed a preliminary round bye in this year’s competition and kick off their campaign against Royal AM of South Africa.

Zesco will be away during the weekend of October 6-9 and host Royal AM in the final leg on October 15 in Ndola.