Zesco United coach Zlatko Krmpotic has admitted destiny in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup is now solely in their hands when they visit South African opponents SuperSport United in Friday’s quarterfinal first leg.

SuperSport will host Zesco in a 19:00 hours kickoff at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria in the two sides quarterfinal first leg match.

Krmpotic has demanded that his players show a better quality and character in the knockout round after struggling though the group stages with three wins.

One of those victories was a walkover result against Al Hilal Obeid after the final Group C match in July in Ndola against the latter was cancelled due to Sudan’s ban by FIFA that was announced on the same day they arrived in Zambia for the match.

“We must go into these two games at 100 percent. This quarterfinal is a one–off. We play one away game and one at home. We will not have any other chances and we should ensure we give 100 percent to win,” Krmpotic said.

“The first game is very important and we have a good chance of making it to the semifinals.”

He added that he was also aware that SuperSport was unbeaten at home in this year’s competition with four wins and two draws but that should not be an excuse.

“We are playing with one good team in South Africa who are in the top five of their league and must respect this. But we know our target and we have been successful to reach this far and still we have good chance to continue to the semifinals but we must improve from our form in the league phase,” said Krmpotic.

Zesco have no injury worries but will miss influential midfielder Anthony Akumu who is suspended for the away match after picking up two yellows in their 3-0 away loss against Angolan club CRD Libolo in
June.