Zambia : Arrows Opens CAF Cup Campaign
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NewsLusaka - Zambia: Red Arrows will be banking on home support on Saturday as they kick off their CAF Confederation Cup campaign against Madagascar’s Rouge in a
Sports 2 min.Read Arrows opens CAF Cup campaign By sports September 4, 2026 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsAppRed Arrows will be banking on home support on Saturday as they kick off their CAF Confederation Cup campaign against Madagascar’s Rouge in a preliminary round first leg tie at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The Airmen and Rouge will be seeking a bright start in Africa’s second-tier club competition.
Unlike Arrows who boast experience in CAF club games, Rouge are making their first appearance in a CAF club competition.
Arrows head coach Chisi Mbewe has declared his side ready for the challenge, despite the difficulty of preparing for an unfamiliar opponent.
“It has been very difficult for us to do our research on our opponents but the most important thing is we are ready for the game. We tried our level best,” Mbewe said in a pre-match comment on Friday in Ndola.
“We just need to work extra hard and be focused. Discipline will be key so that we come out victorious in the first leg.”
Mbewe described Rouge as a youthful and technical side.
“It is a youthful side, maybe the oldest is 25 years and it is a team that is highly technical,” he said.
The Airmen tactician said previous disappointments in continental football should not define the club, adding that the team has set its sights on reaching the group stage this season.
“The most important thing is we don’t want to put ourselves under pressure. We are giving ourselves positive pressure. We want to reach the group stage and we have learnt lessons and gained enough experience,” Mbewe stated.
Captain Saddam Phiri believes the team has gathered enough experience from previous CAF campaigns and is determined to go further.
“I think we have been through learning phases every time we have played in the CAF competitions. This time around, we are not just trying, we want to push all the way to the group stage. In the last five years, we have been in CAF three times so we have learnt a lot,” Phiri said.
Rouge coach Abdoul Amada said his team is ready for its historic first CAF match and is targeting a positive result away from home.
“Our objective is to ensure we get a good result here and finish the job at home. In modern football there is no big or small team, we are all equal. Yes this is our first CAF competition but we prepared the team very well so that we can save our face,” Amada said.
Rouge captain Ishmael Martin said leading his side into its first continental match is a proud moment.
“We are aware Red Arrows is a big team which is used to playing in CAF competitions. For us it is our first participation but we didn’t come here to be tourists, we came to compete. We came a long way to reach this level and we want to show what we are capable of,” Martin said.
The return leg will be played in Madagascar next week.
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