AS Kigali positive despite narrow lead

1/8th Round, 2nd Leg TodayDifaa El Jadida vs AS Kigali 5:30pmSuper Sport [Rsa] vs Etoile Sahel (Tun)Bayelsa Utd [Ngr] vs How Mine (Zim)Djoliba [Mal] vs Wadi Degla (Egy)Zesco Utd [Zam] vs Medeama (Gha)ASEC Mimosas [Civ] vs CS Constantine (Alg)Petro Atletico [Ang] vs Ismaïly (Egy)CA Bizertin vs Warri Wolves (Ngr) AS KIGALI face one of the biggest challenges in their history when they face Difaa El Jadida today to defend their 1-0 first leg lead if they are to progress to the play-off round of Caf Confederation Cup. Rwanda Peace Cup winners AS Kigali play away to Difaa El Jadida in the second leg of the 1/8th round match scheduled for today at Stade El Abdi in Casablanca, starting at 5:30pm. Coach Andre Casa Mbungo’s team goes into the game seeking to defend their slim 1-0 win in the first leg a week ago in Kigali and become the first Rwandan club to reach the play-off round of the competition. The Rwandan debutants are eager to make history and leading striker and captain Jimmy Mbaraga has polished his scoring boots ready to steer AS Kigali. “We don’t need to panic. I think we contained them (El Jadida) well in their first leg, all we want is to frustrate them at their own ground. If we can get an early goal it will unsettle them as they will be required to score three,” the Rwandan international forward said. He added: “We used the same tactic in Sudan against Ahly Shendi. Although we didn’t get the goal we wanted, we still qualified after winning the tie on penalties, and I believe if we work as a team, we can do it again.” Last week, AS Kigali continued with their 100 per cent home record in this year’s competition with the win over Difaa El Jadida. Teenager Jean Paul Niyonzima came off the bench to score the only goal of the encounter after 67 minutes. Rookie Regis Ingabire is expected to replace first choice goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure, who is suspended for today’s game after being booked in second successive match. It was the third straight win for the debutants, after registering the same goal margin in the previous matches against Burundian champions Academie Tchite and Sudanese Ahly Shendi in the past two rounds. Difaa El-Jadida are in the same situation and they will be hoping to maximise the home advantage. AS Kigali’s probable starting line-up: Regis Ingabire, Soter Kayumba, Mwemere Ngirinshuti, James Tubane, Patrick Umwungeri, Mouhamed Kabula, Rodrigue Murengezi, Mwizerwa Amini, Jean Pierre Mabula, Jimmy Mbaraga and Justin Mico.

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AS Kigali positive despite narrow lead