CAFCC: Nairobi United coach Ali reveals plan to gun down Wydad AC

Kenyan Premier League side Nairobi United assistant coach Salim Ali has explained they are aware of what to expect when they take on Wydad AC in the first group stage match of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday.

Unlike Wyad, the Kenyan side will be taking part in the stage for the first time having triumphed 7-6 on penalties against Tunisia’s Etoile Sportive du Sahel in the second preliminary round after a 2-2 aggregate score over two legs, sealing a memorable qualification.

United had been drawn against Ugandan Premier League side NEC FC in the first preliminary round. The first leg in Uganda at the Hamz Stadium ended 2-2, before a 1-1 draw at Nyayo Stadium saw them advance on the away goals rule.

‘Wydad are a very experienced team’

Speaking ahead of the first test slated for Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Ali said as quoted by Flashscore: “We have prepared enough, coming all the way up to here means we have prepared enough to face one of the biggest clubs in Africa on Sunday.

“The mood in camp is fantastic, I can see the players are psyched up, they are trying to understand playing under floodlights, this is the second training session, and hopefully we will have another one before the game.”

On what he is anticipating from Wydad, Ali explained: “Wydad are a very experienced team, with a very good forward line, but they have weaknesses in their defence line, so we will try and take advantage of their weaknesses, and try to minimise their strengths to our advantage.

“We know it is going to be a difficult game, but what matters is 90 minutes, we have to be prepared enough, and work well during the game, and this of course, will make our work easier during the game.”

On whether he was faced with injury concerns, the former Mathare United coach clarified: “We are okay, we don’t have any fitness concerns, the only challenge we have is Yusuf Mainge is out, he won’t play any part because of the three yellow cards he has accumulated so far, so he will definitely be out for this match.

“The most important thing is we have never let ourselves down, we are working hard, we know it is a group stage now, group stage is a tough one, we have six matches, and I believe from the six matches, we will make it count starting with this away match.

“It is a tight one, tough one, 90 minutes of battle, and of course if we put our concentration on top, then we will definitely return home with a good result.”

Apart from Wyad, United, who are in Group B, will also face Azam FC of Tanzania and AS Maniema Union of DR Congo.