Shooting Stars technical adviser Salisu Yusuf says his team must be prepared for a “real battle” when they face CS Sfaxien in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round tie in Tunisia.
The Oluyole Warriors take a 1-0 lead into the return fixture after securing a hard-fought victory over the Tunisian giants at the Moshood Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta on Saturday.
Lucky Emmanuel scored the only goal of the match in the 26th minute, giving the Ibadan club a slender advantage ahead of the decisive encounter in Sfax.
Yusuf praised his players for their discipline and defensive organisation but admitted that Shooting Stars could have taken a more commanding lead into the second leg after missing several opportunities.
“CS Sfaxien are a tactical side. They tried to survive with long balls, but they could not break our defence. We took advantage of our opportunity, scored the only goal and were able to defend it,” Yusuf told the media after the game.
“We could have scored two or three goals, but we missed a lot of chances.
“In the first half, we played a very coordinated game. Tactically, we were better and more organised in the first half than in the second.”
The Shooting Stars coach also recognised the determination shown by CS Sfaxien during the opening match and expects the visitors to pose an even greater threat on home soil.
“They fought here, and we are going there to fight as well. We are not going to play the same way we played here,” he added.
“The Tunisians put us under a lot of pressure. If we cannot score in Tunisia, then we have to make sure we protect our goal.
“It is going to be a real battle in Tunisia.”
Shooting Stars will travel to Sfax for the second leg on Sunday, September 13, with progression to the next preliminary round at stake.
The Nigerian side’s advantage is narrow, meaning a draw would be enough to take them through, while CS Sfaxien must overturn the deficit to continue their campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup. Shooting Stars will also be aware that conceding an early goal could shift the momentum towards the home side, particularly after Yusuf acknowledged the pressure his players faced during the first meeting.
Their first-leg victory nevertheless gives the Oluyole Warriors a platform from which to approach the return match, with Emmanuel’s goal separating the teams after 90 minutes in Abeokuta.