Lamine Ndiaye - Photo Credit - Mazembe Media.
TP Mazembe head coach Lamine Ndiaye has promised that his charges will give a fight when they face MC Alger in a must-win clash of the Caf Champions League at Stade du 5 Juillet on Friday.
The Ravens are sitting precariously in Group A and defeat means they will miss out on qualifying for the quarter-finals. Mazembe are currently placed fourth in the group with two points from four matches.
Ahead of their matchday five fixture, Ndiaye remained optimistic that his players will fight for the qualification ticket until the final day of the group matches.
“It's a tough match that awaits us because both teams are looking for the same thing. Even if we still have a small chance of qualifying we will play it to the full. We didn't come here to take a stroll but to play a good match, to fight,” Ndiaye told Pan-Africa Football.
“Last year we didn't concede goals. It's the opposite, we have the worst defense and we know that in this type of competition, the teams that qualify don't concede many goals. That's the reality of football.
“Even with two points, if we win our two matches that will be eight (8) points which could be enough to move on to the next round. The opponent is looking to play his luck, he played a good match in Nouakchott (against Al Hilal) where he deserved to win. The little chance we have left, which many people do not see, we see it and we will play it to the fullest.”
On whether the crowd will intimidate his players, Ndiaye said: “They play in front of their home crowd. These are the same fans, who expect only one thing: for their team to win. If they don't play well, they don't win either. We are here to play, to fight.”
Al Hial from Sudan have already qualified from the group as they have accumulated 10 points, while MC Alger are second with five and Young Africans (Yanga SC) third with four points.
Comments