Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League champions Tusker FC take on Egyptian giants Zamalek SC in the return leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary round match at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Friday night.
Carrying a 1-0 deficit from the first leg played in Alexandria last Saturday the brewers have the task of winning away from home, on a ground that the White Knights have seldom lost.
Zamalek’s last six matches at home, all domestic games have ended us wins with no goals conceded. Their last defeat at home was in April when they lost 2-1 to local rivals Al Ahly in a league match.
In the Champions League, they lost 1-0 to Esperance at the same venue but before that, their last defeat at home to a foreign team at their home turf was in 2016, when they suffered another 2-1 loss.
Tusker FC coach Robert Matano watches as his players shoot during training at the Borg El Arab Stadium
Zamalek need just a draw at home to progress to the next phase of the Champions League but Tusker will not be providing that easy to them as they have vowed to go all the way and press for a winner.
“We have looked at our mistakes from the first leg and we have analysed the game we played. We know what we did wrong and we are ready to rectify. We have done so in training and the players are looking forward to implement that in the match on Friday,” said striker Boniface Muchiri.
Tusker had a few chances in the first leg in Nairobi with Muchiri particularly one of the brightest players, but they let Zamalek use one of the three open opportunities they had.
But, can they pick up a huge result away from home and stun the five-time African champions? Coach Robert Matano believes it is a possibility.
“We know we can do it. In the first leg we played with a lot of fear and we did not express ourselves well. But we have sat down as a team and looked at where we went wrong and what we need to do better,” said the coach.
He adds; “We have been here (Alexandria) for three days now and we have acclimatized to the weather. At least at the moment it is not as hot as Egypt usually is and that will be good for us. We are ready and willing to give our all for a good result.”
Tusker FC defender Daniel Sakari training at the Borg El Arab Stadium
Tusker had a feel of the match venue on Thursday evening, the players looking sharp and getting their focus on earning a positive result when they take on their opponents.
Again, Muchiri is expected to lead Tusker’s hunt for goals and Tanzanian Ibrahim Joshua is also to be in the forefront to get the groove on.
He has scored in every match he has played in a Tusker jersey since signing from Tanzanian second tier side Ken Gold FC, apart from the first leg against the Egyptians in Nairobi.
“We had small errors in that match and it is something that we have looked at and rectified. I am ready for the challenge and I am ready to give my best for the team and hopefully we can have a positive result,” said the forward.
If the two, Muchiri and Joshua, are on their best day, then Tusker will have half the work done.
But as much as the Kenyan champions need the goals to soak in a win in Alexandria, they will need to be tight defensively. The tricky Achraf Bencharki who scored the lone goal in the first leg is expected to once again lead Zamalek’s assault for goals.
Tusker FC players training at the Borg El Arab Stadium
The left footed Moroccan international was a constant thorn for Tusker in Nairobi, missing a sitter at the stroke of halftime, hitting the crossbar in the 46th minute before scoring a minute later. If Tusker are to get a win in the game, he is the player they need to shut out.
Mahmoud Alaa and Shikabala, both who came off the bench in Nairobi are two other offensive players that can hurt Tusker on their best day.
But, the brewers have tightened up their defensive holes in training and are ready to take on a win and a place in the group stages of the Champions League for the first time ever.
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