In what seemed like a football season which took an age to complete due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Nkana were finally crowned Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Super Division champions over the weekend.
It was a record 13th league title for the Zambian giants.
The Kitwe outfit had to wait for three days with bated breath to know their championship status, after second-placed Forest won a last-minute appeal on the final day of the campaign for a walkover home loss to Zanaco that was replayed on August 9.
Forest had to eventually settle for a runners-up spot following a 0-0 draw with sixth-placed Zanaco in the replay at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Sunday.
The result saw Nkana edge Forest to the crown on goal difference, tied on 50 points from 27 matches, in a season which was cut short due to a surge in Covid-19 infections in the country.
Nkana’s victory sees the club now with four league titles more than the second most successful club – Mufulira Wanderers with nine wins.
The outcome also ended eight-time champions Zesco’s three -year grip on the Zambian championship as they were bidding for an unprecedented fourth successive league title.
Zesco finished the season in unfamiliar territory at number five on 47 points and outside the top two for the first time since 2012. They also miss out of African inter-club qualification for the first time since 2013.
Meanwhile, third and fourth place classification, which guarantees African Confederation Cup qualification, goes to Green Eagles and Napsa Stars respectively who finished tied on 48 points.
This will be a debut for Forest in African competition while Napsa Stars earn their first continental berth since 1993.
In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo
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