CAFCC: Azam FC coach Ibenge remains hopeful after Nairobi United win

Azam FC head coach Florent Ibenge is confident the Tanzanian club have a chance to qualify for the knockout stages of the CAF Confederation Cup following their 1-0 win against Nairobi United at New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Sunday.

Having won the first meeting 2-1 in Nairobi a fortnight ago, Azam ensured they collected six points from their East African neighbours after midfielder Feisal Salum’s first-half goal turned out to be the winner in the Group B contest.

Azam controlled large spells of the match and created several chances to extend their lead, with Salum hitting the crossbar early on and both Jephté Kitambala and Pascal Msindo going close.

 

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The Kenyans showed resilience and threatened sporadically, but were caught offside on multiple occasions as Azam’s defensive line held firm.

‘This is a very good result for us’

“This result is very good for us, because we won and we took three points. Our opponents, the first in the group, have nine points, we have six, that means we are still alive,” Ibenge told Pan-Africa Football after the game.

“We are going to play our next game with focus to win it.”

On playing against United, Ibenge said: “It was difficult as I told you, but our main focus was to get three points, and we managed to get three points. We are very happy.

“Our focus is to play good football, we want to play good football, we don’t want to have stress all the time, and my players were not in their best mood because they didn’t enjoy playing. We have seen previously they can do very well, but they were a bit shy.

“The players were shy because they scored a bit early, and they wanted to keep the score and they didn’t play like I asked them to play. Anyway, we take the three points, it is very important.

“We created a lot of chances but couldn’t score. My players were not efficient in front of the goal, and when we are like that the opponents can also score. But we are happy we didn’t concede, we managed a clean sheet. We must now focus on the next game.”

Despite late pressure and a flurry of set pieces in stoppage time, Azam defended resolutely to see out the win and improve their Group B standings with just three points now separating them from leaders Wydad AC and Maniema Union.