Singida Black Stars head coach Papy Kimoto has cautioned his players against complacency as they prepare for Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup return leg against Tusker FC, insisting that their first-leg victory will not change their approach to the decisive encounter.
The Tanzanian outfit takes a 1-0 advantage into the second leg, scheduled for Sunday, 25 October, at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, but Kimoto is keen to ensure his charges remain focused as they chase a place in the group stage.
DR Congo international Jeancy Mboma came off the bench to score the only goal of the first leg at Nyayo National Stadium, handing Singida the advantage in a match where Tusker had created several promising opportunities but failed to convert them.
Kimoto acknowledged the importance of the result but maintained that his side must deliver another disciplined performance at home to eliminate the Kenyan representatives. “It’s an advantage, but we also need to focus on the second leg,” Kimoto said, underlining the need for his players to maintain their concentration despite winning the opening encounter.
He further insisted that Singida would not adopt a different approach because of the away goal scored in Nairobi, with the coach keen to see his team complete the job in Dar es Salaam.
“We need to finish the game at home. The away goal doesn’t change how we will approach the second leg against Tusker,” he said. Tusker, meanwhile, faces a difficult assignment as they attempt to overturn the deficit and keep their continental ambitions alive. The Brewers struggled to make their dominance count in the first leg, with their wastefulness in front of goal ultimately proving costly.
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Their task became more complicated in the 52nd minute when Mboma beat Eugene Ikutwa on the right before sending in a delivery that deceived goalkeeper Perrauld Ndinga and found the net at the near post.
Tusker’s attempts to find an equaliser through long balls and set pieces in the closing stages yielded no reward, leaving them needing a significant improvement in the return fixture. The aggregate winner will progress to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. Tusker must win by at least two clear goals to advance directly, while a 1-0 victory would level the tie and force a penalty shootout.