Yanga: It’s 50-50 vs Tunisians

YOUNG Africans said they have a 50 per cent chance to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup’s group stage while Club Africain insist that they will use well the return leg to sail through.

The two teams meet in the second leg of the Confederation Cup play-off match at Stade Olympique de Rades in Tunisia on Wednesday next week seeking for the opportunity to sail into the group stage.

After a barren draw in the first leg encounter at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, the game is still afresh hence the next 90 minutes of play will be crucial to the both sides.

“Players did everything possible…of course there are minor things we failed to take into consideration and playing with a team which defends with nine players and deploy one striker is very difficult to break through.

“We are aware that in the next match, they will try to open up hence we are going to use that opportunity to attack them and I believe that it is still a 50-50 affair,” said Yanga Assistant Coach Cedric Kaze.

He added that they have quality players with enough experience to perform a good job in Tunisia and seal group stage qualification.

“We already knew that when playing away, they (Club Africain) prefer to defend in big numbers and they employ time-wasting tactics including causing frustrations to their opponent but to a large extent, we contained that,” Kaze narrated.

He added that failure to use wingers to unlock Club Africain defence was another setback for his charges but insisted that they are going to sort out all the challenges which surfaced ahead of the return leg encounter.

On his part, Club Africain Head Coach Bertrand Marchand admitted that it was a difficult match but expressed his belief to do well in the upcoming fixture at their territory.

“I hope in the second match, things will work out well for our side and make it through to the group stage,” said the Frenchman coach.

His side ousted Kipanga FC of Zanzibar in the CAF Confederation Cup with 7-0 aggregate goals with all the goals coming in the return leg match in Tunisia after a barren draw at Amani Stadium in Zanzibar.

As such; they seem to be lethal when playing at their home other than away where in most cases, they embrace defensive approach in order not to concede defeat.