NAIROBI, Oct. 31 -- Kenya's Bandari Football club hope their debut season in the CAF Confederation Cup will continue past their next opponents, Guinean giants Horoya, whom they meet in Nairobi on Sunday.
Head coach Bernard Mwalala said on Thursday it is possible to overturn the 4-2 deficit, which they suffered away in Conakry in the return leg in Nairobi.
"Our game is still at 50-50. We have to score and defend well and I know that is Horoya's thinking as well. I am looking at a very open game on Sunday and for me, this is an attempt that is doable. We can overturn the lead," Mwalala said.
The Guineans are due to arrive in Nairobi on Friday and will have a feel of the ground on Saturday with light training. But Mwalala says their fate is still in their hands.
Bandari captain Felly Mulumba believes the team can compete with the giants and their away goals will help them overcome their rivals.
"We conceded because of small mistakes and I believe that if we can correct that, then we will be good to go. They are a good team, but at our best, we are able to compete with them as we did in Conakry," Mulumba said.
Mwalala is, however, cautious of Horoya's deadly attack line led by experienced Burkina Faso forward Aristide Bance and has called on his defense to be extra careful and avoid the mistakes they made in the first leg in West Africa.
"At this level and with strikers like Bance and their captain as well, when you make certain mistakes, you are punished. We made some errors maybe because of inexperience and nerves and we paid for it. Now, we have worked on that and the confidence is up," the tactician said.
Bandari is playing in the Confederations Cup play-off round for the first time ever and a 2-0 victory at home on Sunday will earn them a historic place in the group stages of the tournament.
Kenya's other team Gor Mahia will be away in Kinshasa to face Motema Pembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The two teams drew 1-1 in Nairobi last week.