TotalEnergies CAF Champions League: Pre-match quotes from coaches and players

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Match Day 4 action officially gets underway on Friday, 3 January with teams hoping to either secure a place in the knockout stages, or revive their hopes following their slow starts.

The action kicks off with a mouth-watering North African tie between CR Belouizdad and Al Ahly on Friday evening, while Saturday sees a number of bumper fixtures lines up.

Here are some of the comments made by some of the club coaches and players ahead of this weekend’s ties.

Young Africans v TP Mazembe 

Lamine Ndiaye - Coach TP Mazembe 

"We are prepared to play against Young Africans, we have worked on the mistakes of the last game. We believe we will win. Tomorrow is another game, an important game but not a decisive game. We know its importance and we want to win."

Atibu Radjabu - Player TP Mazembe 

"We are ready for the game. The matches are not the same because each game has its own way of facing it but we had time to prepare for tomorrow's game."

Sead Ramovic - Coach Young Africans 

"Very important match to us. It is a different game and we will see where we are. It is new day, new game, different moment. TP Mazembe is strong team and we have to put in the effort. Confidence is the key. Confidence comes from the training and we know we are capable but if we win Inshallah, if we draw Inshallah, if we lose Inshallah."

Dickson Job - Player Young Africans 

"We know the importance of tomorrow's game, we are ready in any way.  We believe we will win. We have made good preparations and the coaches have instructed us what to do."

Orlando Pirates v Stade d’Abidjan 

Jose Riveiro – Orlando Pirates coach

“It’s a really, really difficult one against a very good opponent and one that we cannot take for granted. It will be a tough game and requires us to fully apply ourselves throughout the match.”

Innocent Maela – Orlando Pirates captain

“It is a Champions League match which is always tough, always difficult. It's always nice playing these types of matches at home in Orlando. So we are looking forward to it and looking forward to making our fans proud.”

Douayere Bessou Serges Alain – Stade d’Abidjan Coach 

“We are in a very difficult position but very much capable of doing well. We have a group of dedicated players who have a lot to play for. We have to give it our best despite the previous results not going our way.”

Bamba Drissa – Stade d’Abidjan Captain 

“We have a lot to play for. Things may not have started the way we would have wanted them to but we are not out yet and a good result could change things entirely in this group.”