Vipers test Sfaxien’s enviable home record
Huge task. Tito Okello and co. need to score though attention will be on how the defence locks out the Tunisians. PHOTO by Ismail kezaala
What you need to know:
- Soccer. Tunisian CS Sfaxien will look to keep its near perfect home record intact on Sunday evening against Vipers in the win-or bust return leg of their Caf Confederation Cup in Tunis.
KAMPALA. The most intimidating aspect of Vipers’ ambitions to overcome CS Sfaxien and progress to the group stages of the Caf Confederation Cup is the fact that the Tunisian giants are yet to lose at home in the last ten matches.
In the last nine matches at their 18,000 capacity seater Stade Taïeb Mhiri, they have conceded only four goals and scored 15 which points to the gigantic task that awaits Vipers on Sunday.
Sfaxien Dutch coach Krol talked about a different game approach in Tunis hinting on the impact of off the field matters when his team managed a goalless draw last Saturday at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
“We are coming from winter and here we played in very high temperatures so it was not easy. The artificial terrain was also difficult because we play on grass.”
The four-time Caf Confederations cup winners subjected Zambian giants Green Buffaloes to a 4-1 humiliation at the previous round which points to their other advantage – pedigree. On the other side, Vipers only encounter with North African teams yielded 3-0 aggregate loss to Algerian side Constantine.
Vipers received a timely boost when their hitherto injured defenders; Livingstone Mulondo, Halid Lwaliwa and Bashir Asiku recovered in time to make the Tunis trip today although their fitness remains a point of concern.
“The defence is going to be patched up so that we don’t concede. The Sunday game is to tough because we know we are facing the North Africans but the game is still open for any one tow win,” Vipers coach Michael Nam ouma told Daily Monitor yesterday.
For now, Vipers at least know much about Sfaxien indefatigable goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen who singlehandedly kept them at bay their –five goal attempts notwithstanding yet in Alaa Marzouki, Hani Amamou, Firas Chaouat, Jassem Hamdouni, Chris Banhourin Kouakou and Ben Ali Houssem, the Tunisians have forwards that can kill off the contest any time. Averaging a goal in every home game, it is unimaginable seeing Vipers, that averagely concede in every two matches get away with a 0-0 score line.
CS Sfaxien at home
10/05/18 CS Sfaxien 1-0 Club Africain
01/09/18 CS Sfaxien 2-1 Tataouine
30/09/18 CS Sfaxien 2-2 Naft
07/10/18 CS Sfaxien 2-0 ES Tunis
21/10/18 CS Sfaxien 2-0 Club Africain
03/11/18 CS Sfaxien 1-0 Stade Gabésien
28/11/18 CS Sfaxien 0-0 Hammam-Lif
08/12/18 CS Sfaxien 1-0 Kairouan
15/12/18 CS Sfaxien 4-1 Green Buffaloes
