Stop Ibrahim Keita and Zesco United have a great chance of pulling off a result because the Wydad Casablanca team overall is short on confidence and goals. Having Ibrahim Keita in Wydad Casablanca covers a multitude of sins – if their lack of invention and inspiration in front of goal means they cannot pick Zesco United's defense, Casablanca are in trouble.
Zesco United will not allow Ibrahim Keita to break down their defense. As Zesco United concern themselves with how they might deal with him, the incentive could not be greater because stopping Ibrahim Keita has so often this season meant stopping Wydad Casablanca, such has been the poor form shown by the whole team.
One of the most telling things about George Lwandamina's last team selection before the first leg against United was not so much the presence of players such as Clatous Chama, John Ching'andu and Lameck Nyangu – whom would all have been expected to have rested to start fresh against Al Ahly – but his decision to field a full-strength team against Nkana prior to the Al Ahly game.
The message to Zesco United was clear – you don't need rest, you need the sharpness that only comes from games and the confidence that only comes from goals.
In this match, as so often over the past three seasons, Ibrahim Keita may well be all it takes to get a result against Zesco United. But if Zesco United shut out Ibrahim Keita, then responsibility will pass on to the rest of the team. Wydad Casablanca will need their best performance of the season so far if they are to be up to the challenge of getting a point against Zesco United.