Medeama eye playoff spot

Zesco United defender, Bernard Mapili, has predicted doom for Ghana's Medeama SC ahead of their crucial Confederation Cup second leg tie at the 40,800-capacity Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia, on Sunday.

The 19-year-old stopper described Zesco's first leg 2-0 loss at the Essipon Stadium as "water under the bridge", adding that they were was looking forward to the return leg which provides them with a golden opportunity to overturn the score and progress to the play-off stage in front of a teeming home support.

But Medeama have other ideas of their own and remain undaunted by such proclamations.

Medeama coach, Carlos Roberto Paulette, nicknamed CRT by his players, is on the verge of booking one of the eight coveted slots in the play-off round where they will come up against a loser from the Champions League second round to decide who enters the lucrative group stage.

The Peruvian trainer remains hopeful that his side would score in Zambia as they have found the net in all their travels in this maiden campaign.

A 2-1 win over Equatorial Guinea’s Panthers FC ensured a 4-1 aggregate progression from the preliminary round, while a 2-1 loss at Moroccan side Maghreb Fes could not stop the Mauve and Yellow train from booking a date with destiny against Zesco.

Medeama’s capture of Michael Helegbe from local rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, remains an inspired signing, and along with tested colleagues such as Kabiru Imoro, Theophilus Anobaah and Nathaniel Asamoah, the Ghanaians look set to secure the double over Zesco United, leaving them with a final hurdle before the lucrative group stage.