- Yanga face Djibouti’s Asas in the Champions League
- Uganda’s Vipers face Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy
- Azam have been eliminated by Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar in the Confed Cup
East African sides Yanga SC and Vipers SC play the second leg duels of their CAF Champions League preliminary round matches with contrasting fortunes. Yanga lead 2-0 from the first leg against Asas of Djibouti, while Vipers host Botswana’s Jwaneng in Kampala, trailing 2-0 from the first leg in Gaborone.
Yanga just need plainly a draw against the Djibouti side, which hosted its home match in Dar es Salaam as they are unable to host at home due to the unavailability of approved venues.
They lost the first leg 2-0 at the Azam Complex last weekend, as the home team.
Now, Yanga will be at home this time, and they are keen to ensure they finish the job.
Head coach Miguel Gamondi says they are well prepared and are keen to ensure they do not get anu surprises, and comfortably make it into the next round.
The coach says they will not have the result from the first leg in their minds, but are approaching the game with a completely new mentality.
“We played the first leg moved on from that. We did well, missed a lot of chances, but tomorrow will be a different game they will come try to attack more than us we will see what happens. But we are determined to win the game and hope will be a nice game for the fans as well,” the tactician said.
Did well last season
Yanga celebrate during a past match. PHOTO/Yanga
Yanga did well on the continent last season, reaching the final of the CAF Confederation Cup. This season, they are keen to replicate the same form in the Champions League.
Meanwhile in Kampala, Vipers must win the game against Jwaneng by a margin of more than three goals at their St, Mary’s Kitende backyard to make the first round, or in the least, 2-0 to take the game to penalties.
Head coach Leo Neiva is optimistic they have what it takes to overturn the result under the lights in Kampala.
“We are focused for the game at home. We know that we need to impose ourselves physically, technically and mentally. For sure it will be a tough game and a big challenge, but we believe that we can come back. For sure,” the coach said.
He added; “We fixed some points we need to improve and we have developed a lot. We need to play with our hearts and score in this game. We should not concede and we need to score. We expect a lot from Galaxy. They have a good squad with an experienced coach.”
The Ugandan side are looking to make the group stages of the Champions League for a second consecutive season.
Tanzanian side Azam FC has been knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup after suffering a 4-3 defeat on penalties to Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar FC at their Chamazi Complex backyard.
Azam out on penalties
Azam taking on Hair Dar
The game was forced to penalties after Azam won the second leg 2-1, taking the aggregate scores to 3-3, with the Ethiopian side having won the first leg by a similar margin at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa last weekend.
Azam were unlucky on spot kicks, with Sospeter Bajana, Idris Mbombo and Djibril Sylla all missing their kicks. Yanick Bangala, Feisal Salum and Cheikh Sidibe had scored their efforts.
Azam were off to a good start, scoring twice within the opening 10 minutes. After just 35 seconds, the home side was ahead when Iddi Nado tapped home unmarked at the backpost.
In the 10th minute, Azam were in dreamland and a brilliant two goal cushion when Prince Dube slotted home from close range off a cross on the left.
They were in cruise control and just needed a third goal to completely cushion their lead. They were however stunned in the 17th minute when Habtamu Tadesse ran behind the defense to beat keeper Idrissiu Abdulai one on one.
The home side could not get back the advantage despite efforts, and the Ethiopian side now sail into the first round.
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