TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Match Day 5: What the coaches and players have to say

On Sunday, 13 January, the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will line up a series of exciting Match Day 5 fixtures where some teams will rubber-stamp their qualification to the knockout stages of the competition.

Ahead of the action, CAFOnline takes a look at some of the comments made by the coaches and players ahead of the fixtures.

Desportivo Lunda Sul vs RS Berkane

Mouiane Chaabani - RS Berkane coach

"Not having a chance to progress to the next stage doesn't make our opposition a weaker team because they are good. They are playing beautiful football too. Yes, we have qualified but we want to win and that is why we going to need to remain focused tomorrow"

Murilo Silva - Desportivo Lunda Sul coach

"We stand no chance of progressing, but we worked well this week to try and get our first win in a group stage. Overall, we have been playing well except last week against Stellenbosch in South Africa. So, with that belief we hope to have a good match tomorrow"

Orapa United vs USMA

Gadiman Tiiso – Orapa United coach

"We have had a difficult tournament, but we must take positives from these games and grow from them, my boys go into this next game with the aim to fight for the points and put a good account of ourselves. We have not scored in the group stages, and this is something we need to correct. We will fight for all the 6 points in the last two games. We have nothing to lose and only experience to gain and grow”.

Norman Mabaya - Orapa United Player

We were unlucky against Jaraaf, we created and did not score, and this was a lesson as we got punished and must do better. We are yet to score in the group stages and this week we worked hard on this issue. We play a team that has everything to lose and we dont have anything to lose we are here to fight for our pride, and we will just be out to fight and enjoy this game. We will need to score this weekend and hope to claim all three points” 

Nabil Maaloul – USMA coach

"We need to win this game and be sure of qualification as we go forward. We want all three points out of the mission. Our last game was difficult and we had to learn to adjust. We need to be clinical and win this game. We will go into this game knowing the home team is out to prove a point.  We need to be focused and use our chances well. The players know the mission we have and are all focused on delivering the win. "

USMA player - Musa Ali

"We are focused on our goal to get qualification done. Our team has worked hard to this goal, and we could not do it in the game against Asec.  We cannot make the mistakes we made in that game. We will need to get a win in this game, we know the home team won’t be easy especially at home, but we will work for the points. All we need is 3 points and we want to qualify"

Stellenbosch FC vs Stade Malien:

 Mamoutou Kané – Stade Malien Coach

“We have come here battling for the second position in this tournament and this match is very important for us to play and qualify for the next stage of the tournament. Yes, we lost our last two matches, and that is football, but tomorrow will depend on the behavior of the players, but we are here to win.”

Youssouf Coulibaly – Stade Malien Player

“It is a very important match for us, but also very difficult. We all know that we have to win to stay in the tournament. We won at home, but it will not be easy here in South Africa. We have prepared well and looking forward to a win.”

Steve Barker – Stellenbosch FC coach

“It is a massive game for us as a team and as a football club. Everybody knows it's our first attempt at playing on the continent. Tomorrow affords us an opportunity to get ourselves into the knockout stages which would be an incredible achievement as a football club, and we've prepared well. We do not want to go away in the last game of the group stage to RS Berkane needing results - we know it's in our hands,” 

Sage Stephens – Stellenbosch FC Captain

“From the players’ perspective we're looking forward to the occasion tomorrow. It’s a big game for club, for the players, the coaching staff. We are at home, so we need to show up, but like the coach says that the squad we've done very well, we've learned on our way trips - so the team is performing consistently. So, we want to take this as far as possible.”

CS Constantine vs CS Sfaxien

Lassaad Dridi - CS Sfaxien coach:

"It is true that CS Sfaxien is experiencing a difficult period, having not yet won a single match in the group stage. Our objective on Sunday will be to put an end to this series of defeats. We are determined to rectify the situation in order to rehabilitate ourselves with our supporters, even if we know that CS Constantine is a good team."

Mohamed Hedi Gaaloul - CS Sfaxien Player

"We are currently going through a tough situation. We intend to get back on track by trying to achieve a good result in the next match against CS Constantine. The players are motivated, and we have nothing to lose."

Kheireddine Madoui - CS Constantine coach

"I said it last week, this game against CS Sfaxien will be one of the most important of the season. First, its result is important to definitively ensure our qualification for the quarter-finals. We are aware that the top place of the group will be decided next week against FC Simba, but we are focused on the match against CS Sfaxien to ensure qualification. It will not be easy against a team that has nothing to lose and that will be motivated to stop the series of defeats."

Zakaria Benchaâ - CS Constantine Player

"It is true that our opponent has not yet collected any points, but we are ready to finish the job well and ensure qualification. Thanks to the technical and psychological contribution of our coach, we are ready to win this match."