Tusker FC coach Julien Mette has demanded greater concentration from his players when they host Al-Ahli Wad Madani in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round tie at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.
The Brewers threw away a two-goal lead in the first leg in Kigali, settling for a 2-2 draw after Al-Ahli fought back in the second half. Victor Mbaoma had put Tusker in control with two first-half goals. The Nigerian opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 11th minute before heading in his second goal shortly before the interval.
Al-Samani Al-Sawi pulled one back for the Sudanese side in the 57th minute, before converting a stoppage-time penalty to complete the comeback. Mette said the collapse had provided his players with a valuable lesson ahead of the return match.
“We have to learn from what happened in the first leg. Football at this level punishes you when you lose concentration, and we cannot afford to repeat those mistakes,” Mette said.
The 2-2 scoreline leaves the tie delicately poised, with Tusker having scored twice in the opening match. They know that a win at Nyayo will secure their passage to the next round, while a low-scoring draw could also work in their favour under the applicable competition rules.
The brewers are also hoping their improving injury situation will give Mette more options for the decisive encounter.
Midfielder Wassama Hassan remains doubtful after missing the first leg as he continued his recovery from injury. Mette had expressed hope before the Kigali match that the midfielder could regain full fitness in time for the return fixture.
There is better news elsewhere in the squad, with Erick Kapaito having recovered from the injury that kept him out of the FKF Super Cup clash against Gor Mahia. The forward has returned to full training with the main squad and could provide another attacking option for the coach.
Captain Abud Omar has also overcome the ankle problem that had been troubling him and was fit enough to lead the side in the first leg. Mbaoma, meanwhile, recovered from a deep cut suffered during a pre-season friendly against Mombasa United and went on to score both Tusker goals in Kigali.
Mette, however, does not want his players approaching the game with the mathematics of the tie dominating their thinking. “We don’t want to play for a particular score. We want to play our football, control the game and win. That is the mentality we need if we want to go far in this competition,” he said.
The return leg is another opportunity for Mette to assess a squad that has undergone significant changes. The Frenchman has spoken of the need to establish a clear playing identity while blending young players with experienced campaigners.
Tusker’s preparations have included experience on artificial turf during the CECAFA Kagame Cup, giving the squad exposure to conditions similar to those encountered in continental competition.
Playing in Nairobi will also give the Brewers home advantage, but Mette knows the pressure will remain high with qualification at stake. “These are the matches we wanted. We wanted to compete against African teams and experience this pressure. Now we have to show that we are ready for it,” Mette said.
The coach has made no secret of his ambition to take Tusker into the Confederation Cup group stages, which he regards as important for both the club’s financial backing and the opportunity to play six matches against strong African opposition.
The return of Kapaito and the availability of Mbaoma could strengthen Tusker’s attacking options, while the possible return of Hassan would give Mette another choice in midfield. The coach will nevertheless have to assess the squad carefully before settling on his final XI.
Tusker will need to combine the attacking threat displayed in the first half in Kigali with the defensive discipline that deserted them after the break.
“Our objective is very clear: we want to qualify. We want to reach the group stage, and for that we must take these games one at a time and be better every time we step onto the pitch,” Mette said.
Kick-off at Nyayo is scheduled for 3 pm, with Tusker seeking to convert their promising start in Kigali into qualification for the second preliminary round.
