Taking charge of his first competitive match as APR coach, Tunisian Nizar Khanfir was on the losing side as his side lost 2-1 to Tanzanian giants Yanga in the first round of the Caf Champions League this at Amahoro on Saturday.
APR fell to goals by Adbul Juma and Thaban Kamusoko in the 20 and 72 minutes before Patrick Sibomana pulled on back in added time.
Going into the return leg this weekend at the Dar es Salaam National Stadium, APR will need to be on top of their game to advance at the expense of the Tanzanian giants.
We have lost to a big team. We made two mistakes and they punished us. At 2-1, it is still an open game, we have to work hard and win the game in Tanzania. We’re obviously disappointed to lose today (Saturday), but we need keep focus and believe that we can turn the tie around in Tanzania. We must go into the next game with a positive mindset and confidence
Khanfir told a post-match press conference before giving his views on the two goals his side conceded.
Both mistakes were avoidable, but that is what you get when you have young players, we have a lot of work to do with this team, but I am confident that we can do much better
Yanga played with a lot of experience and maturity and dominated the game for long spells, at their own backyard, they are expected to make life harder for APR, Khanfir is well aware.
Honestly, it is a difficult task to deal with, we have an uphill battle in the return leg away from home, but we still have a chance. I hope the goal we scored here can turn out to be important in the return leg
APR struggled to create goal scoring chances, Barnabe Mubumbyi looked isolated upfront, though two clear cut chances off Jean Claude Iranzi and Patrick Sibomana crosses.
The other creative force Djiahd Bizmana, played are more deep role and always forced to cover yards of space back forth.
We’ll need total focus and give ourselves a chance and (hopefully) score more than one goal. We have played against a strong team, but in the return leg, we must do better than we have done here today
Whoever advances between APR and Yanga will face either Recreativo do Libolo (Angola) or Egyptian side Al-Ahly, the latter settled for a barren draw in their first meeting in Luanda.
Results Saturday, 12 March 2016
Sundowns (South Africa) 2-0 AC Leopards (Congo)
Stade Malien (Mali) 2-0 Coton Sport (Cameroon)
Zesco United (Zambia) 4-1 Horoya (Guinea)
APR (Rwanda) 1-2 Young Africans (Tanzania)
Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) 0-1 ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
Club Africain (Tunisia) 1-0 MO Bejaia (Algeria)
Wydad (Morocco) 5-1 CNaPS (Madagascar)
Ahly Tripoli (Libya) 1-0 El Hilal (Sudan)
Recreativo do Libolo (Angola) 0-0 Ahly (Egypt)
Sunday, 13 March 2016
AS Vita (DR Congo) 1-0 Ferroviaro (Mozambique)
Warri Wolves (Nigeria) 0-1 El Merreikh (Sudan)
Etoile du Congo (Congo) 1-1 ES Setif (Algeria)
St George (Ethiopia) 2-2 TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Enyimba (Nigeria) 5-1 Vital’O (Burundi)
OC Khouribga (Morocco) 1-1 Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)
Union Douala (Cameroon) 0-1 Zamalek (Egypt)
