Youssef: Makassa can rewrite the books
Debutants in the premier continental club championship, Misr Makassa of Egypt face an uphill task as they host to Senegal champions, Generation Foot in their preliminary round second leg on Wednesday, 21 February 2018 at the Cairo International Stadium.
Makassa who are having their maiden appearance in the top tier club competition need to win by at least three unanswered goals to guarantee their qualification to the 1/16th round.
Cheikh Tidiane Sabaly and Amadou Dia Ndiaye each scored in the second half to give the Generation Foot a 2-0 victory two weeks ago at the Leopold Sedar Senghor stadium in Dakar. Generation Foot now can afford even a one goal defeat to go through to the next round.
The loss in Dakar cost Makassa coach Emad Soliman his job, leaving his post by mutual consent after the team returned home. His replacement, Talaat Youssef is no stranger to the CAF Champions League.
Last year, Youssef, 63, led unfancied Libyan side Ahly Tripoli to the quarter finals of the CAF Champions League, a feat considered the best ever in the history of the club. After easing past Ghana’s Wa All Stars and FUS Rabat of Morocco, Youssef guided Ahli Tripoli to second place in the group stage behind Algeria’s USM Alger and finishing above Egyptian giants Zamalek and CAPS United of Zimbabwe, before bowing to Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel at the last eight.
“It's a difficult mission surely,” Youssef told CAFOnline.com.
“I could have waited till after the return leg, but I accept the risk,” Youssef said on taking the appointment at the Fayoum-based club.
After a surprise second place finish last season in the Egyptian top flight, Makassa find themselves on 13th position in the current season with 10 games to spare. They are just four points clear of the relegation zone, but Youssef is the least worried.
“Our focus now is on the continental scene. I have watched the clip of the first leg and will study our opponents well. My first mission will be to boost the players’ confidence and tell them they have to fight. It’s going to be very difficult, but impossible is nothing. We definitely can do it," added the experienced coach.
The bad news for Youssef ahead of his debut is the absence to some key players. Ghanaian-import John Antwi, also the top scorer and skipper Ahmed Samy will miss the game through injuries.
“Their absence is a blow for the team, but we will do whatever it takes to win. Generation Foot is a good team, but we can beat them and progress. Should the players follow my instructions, I'm positive we are going to make it to the next round,” Youssef concluded.
The winner will face either Horoya of Guinea or Nigerien champions, AS FAN at the next round.
Fixtures
Tuesday, 20 February 2018
Williamsville AC (Cote d’Ivoire) vs Stade Malien (Mali) (1-1)
Olympic de Bangui (Central African Republic) vs ES Setif (Algeria) (0-6)
El Hilal (Sudan) vs LISCR (Liberia) (0-1)
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
KCCA (Uganda) vs CNaPs Sport (Madagascar) (1-2)
Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland) vs Bantu (Lesotho) (4-2)
Aduana (Ghana) vs El Tahadi (Libya) (0-1)
Mounana (Gabon) vs RC Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) (0-1)
MFM (Nigeria) vs AS Real (Mali) (1-1)
MC Alger (Algeria) vs AS Otoho (Congo) (0-2)
Horoya (Guinea) vs AS FAN (Niger) (3-1)
Makkassa (Egypt) vs Generation Foot (Senegal) (0-2)
Saint Louis (Seychelles) vs Young Africans (Tanzania) (0-1)
El Merreikh (Sudan) vs Township Rollers (Botswana) (0-3)
Leones Vegatarianos (Equatorial Guinea) vs Gor Mahia (Kenya) (0-2)
Esperance (Tunisia) vs Concorde (Mauritania) (1-1)
Eding Sport (Cameroon) vs Plateau United (Nigeria) (0-3)
AS Port (Togo) vs AC Leopards (Congo) (1-2)
Zesco (Zambia) vs JKU (Zanzibar) (0-0)
ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire) vs Buffles (Benin) (1-1)
UD Songo (Mozambique) vs Ngaya (Comoros) (1-1)
Be Forward (Malawi) vs AS Vita (DR Congo) (0-4)
FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) vs Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) (0-3)
Pamplemousses (Mauritius) vs Bidvest (South Africa) (0-2)
Difaa El Jadida (Morocco) 10-0 Benfica (Guinea Bissau)
Benfica (Guinea Bissau) vs Difaa El Jadida (Morocco) (0-10)
Lydia Academic (Burundi) vs Rayon Sports (Rwanda) (1-1)
Saturday, 24 February 2918
Armed Forces (Gambia) vs Zanaco (Zambia) (0-3)