CAFCC: Nairobi United will not park the bus against Etoile du Sahel

Kenyan Premier League side Nairobi United have maintained their desire to go into the CAF Confederation Cup return leg fixture against Etoile Sportive du Sahel with a mindset of going for more goals despite enjoying a 2-0 cushion from the first leg.

The FKF Premier League promoted side registered a commanding result against the Tunisian giants courtesy of goals from Ovella Ochieng and John Otieno. The win put United’s one leg in the group stages of the tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Nairobi United will not defend in Tunis

Replying to a question whether Nairobi United will play in Tunis seeking to defend their 2-0 advantage, coach Salim Ali told Flashscore: “We will play the same way we played at home, but on top of that, we will have to be very cautious, we can attack and at the end of the day, we have a mentality of defending again.

“So, we will try as much as possible to combine a very good team that can work on such tactics, because tactics are now the key thing in away matches.”

He added: “I think we are not chasing history, if we can have a very good match in Tunis next week, then I believe history will come by itself.

“We wanted to have a different match (from the previous two CAF matches against NEC), we wanted to use a different approach, and I believe if the players can keep the same morale, the same commitment, we will qualify for the group stages, and then again history will come back to Kenya.”

The former Mathare United coach took his time to praise club fans for always rallying behind the team. He said: “We played for the fans because they are the ones who have motivated us.

“If you look at how they supported us throughout the FKF Cup to earn this CAF ticket, and against Uganda Premier League NEC FC, home and away, I think the 12th man on the pitch has played a huge role for us.”

The Nairobi-based side will travel to Tunis for the return leg at Stade Olympique de Sousse on Sunday, October 26.