Azam 1–0 Maniema Union: Hosts edge tight CAF Confederation Cup contest in Dar es Salaam
Azam kept their CAF Confederation Cup hopes firmly on track with a hard‑fought 1–0 victory over DR Congo’s Maniema Union in Match Round 5, prevailing in a contest defined more by discipline and defensive organisation than attacking fluency.
The Tanzanian side, roared on by the home crowd, made a crucial breakthrough to secure all three points despite having less of the ball and coming under sustained pressure for long spells. Maniema Union enjoyed 54% of possession to Azam’s 46%, but the visitors’ profligacy in the final third proved costly as they slipped to a narrow defeat.
### Azam make dominance in the moments that matter count
For all that Maniema Union saw more of the ball, it was Azam who showed the sharper edge when it counted. The hosts registered 8 shots, with 3 efforts on target, and converted one of their clearest openings to settle the contest.
Forward S. Kanoute was Azam’s most active attacking outlet, repeatedly testing the Maniema back line with his movement and willingness to shoot. Though only three of Azam’s attempts found the target, their ability to create and then take the decisive chance underlined a clinical streak that their opponents lacked.
Maniema Union, by contrast, produced 13 shots but could direct only one of them on goal. Despite spells of territorial superiority and patient build‑up, they were repeatedly frustrated by Azam’s defensive structure and a lack of composure in front of goal. Beni Namboka emerged as their main threat, registering the side’s best effort on target, but he was unable to drag his team back into the game.
### Midfield battle: Lupini impresses, Nado and Twalib key in transition
The midfield zone was fiercely contested, with both sides relying on contrasting strengths. Maniema Union’s Lupini Dieumerci was one of the standout performers on the ball, completing 85% of his 41 passes. His composure under pressure and range of distribution helped the visitors dictate tempo for periods and keep Azam penned back.
Azam, however, were more direct and incisive when they broke forward. Nuru Twalib, though recording a more modest pass accuracy of 65% from 35 passes, played an important role in moving the ball quickly through the thirds, accepting a higher risk in possession in order to release the forwards early.
In terms of creativity, both teams could point to key players fashioning chances. For Azam, I. S. Nado delivered 2 key passes, finding pockets of space and threading balls into dangerous areas. Maniema Union’s response came via the experienced Clément Pitroipa, who also produced 2 key passes, often drifting into half‑spaces to link play and look for gaps in the Azam rearguard.
Yet, for all the neat combinations and tidy passing statistics, it was Azam’s decisiveness rather than Maniema’s polish in possession that defined the result.
### Defensive discipline: Msindo leads Azam’s rearguard resistance
The platform for Azam’s victory was unquestionably their defensive organisation. The hosts made 9 interceptions over the 90 minutes, repeatedly disrupting Maniema Union’s attacking patterns. At the heart of that effort was Pascal Msindo, who led the way with 3 interceptions and read the game superbly from deep areas.
Every time Maniema tried to build centrally, Azam collapsed into a compact shape, forcing play wide and pouncing on loose touches or risky passes. That pressure contributed to the visitors’ failure to turn possession into genuinely threatening chances.
Maniema Union, who registered 5 interceptions themselves, were less frequently called upon to defend prolonged spells, but when Azam did break, they struggled at times to contain the home side’s transitions.
Blocks and last‑ditch interventions were notably limited from both sides, underlining how much of the contest was played in front of the defensive lines rather than inside the penalty areas. But when danger did arise, Azam’s back line and holding midfielders stepped in effectively, ensuring their goalkeeper had relatively little to do in terms of multiple saves from open play.
### Physical duels: Elukaga Mwaikenda and Lupini set the tone
The physical aspect of the match was another key battleground. By the number of face‑to‑face duels for the ball, Azam’s Lusajo Elukaga Mwaikenda was the standout figure, contesting 13 individual battles. His relentless work rate, particularly down the flanks and in defensive transition, helped Azam disrupt Maniema’s rhythm and win second balls in key areas.
For Maniema Union, it was again Lupini Dieumerci who featured prominently, engaging in 9 direct duels. His willingness to compete physically as well as technically made him central to the visitors’ strategy of controlling midfield and regaining possession quickly after turnovers.
Those confrontations in the middle third set the tone for a match that was often scrappy and fiercely contested rather than free‑flowing, with Azam ultimately better able to turn those battles into territorial gains and, crucially, the decisive goal.
### Wasteful Maniema left to rue missed opportunities
Maniema Union will inevitably reflect on this match as a missed opportunity. With the balance of possession in their favour and more attempts overall, their lack of accuracy in front of goal – just a single effort on target from 13 shots – left them with nothing to show for their endeavour.
Namboka’s efforts, alongside the promptings of Pitroipa and the control provided by Lupini, created promising positions, but the final ball and finishing touch were too often lacking. When they did fashion shooting chances, many were from distance or under pressure as Azam’s defenders closed down quickly.
Azam, by contrast, demonstrated the value of efficiency at this level of African club competition. With fewer chances and less of the ball, they still found a way to turn one key moment into the match‑winning goal, then defended that advantage with maturity.
### Tactical story of the game
The pattern of the contest was clear from early on. Maniema Union sought to build patiently from the back, stretch Azam horizontally and find spaces between the lines via Lupini and Pitroipa. Azam responded by dropping into a compact mid‑block, looking to pounce on turnovers and spring forward quickly.
As the match wore on, Maniema committed more men forward, but Azam’s disciplined structure largely prevented clear openings. The home side’s willingness to sacrifice possession in favour of solidity and counter‑attacking threat ultimately paid off, particularly with Kanoute constantly offering a target and Nado supplying him when opportunities arose.
In the dying stages, Maniema pushed higher in search of an equaliser, but by then Azam were content to protect what they had. Msindo’s reading of the game, Elukaga Mwaikenda’s tireless work in duels, and a collective focus without the ball ensured there would be no late twist.
### What the result means in the CAF Confederation Cup context
The 1–0 victory gives Azam a significant boost in Match Round 5 of the CAF Confederation Cup group phase, strengthening their position in the section and maintaining momentum at a crucial stage of the campaign. Their ability to win tight, tactical encounters such as this will be vital as the tournament progresses.
For Maniema Union, the defeat is a setback in their push for qualification. Despite playing well in spells and showing they can control matches away from home, they must urgently address their lack of cutting edge in front of goal if they are to turn promising performances into points in the Confederation Cup.
### Summary
In a contest characterised by fine margins, Azam’s blend of defensive resilience, physical commitment and just enough attacking precision proved decisive. While Maniema Union edged the ball possession and passing numbers, Azam won the metric that mattered most – the scoreline – and left the pitch with a valuable 1–0 CAF Confederation Cup victory that keeps their continental campaign firmly on course.
- Azam will play with Wydad AC. February 15 at 14:00 (GMT), on Stade Larbi Zaouli.
- Maniema Union will play with Nairobi United. February 15 at 13:00 (GMT), on None.
Azam
- Aishi Salum Manula (6.9)
- Lusajo Elukaga Mwaikenda (7.3)
- Yeison Fuentes (7)
- Nuru Twalib (6.9)
- Pascal Msindo (6.9)
- Himid Mao Mkami (7)
- S. Kanoute (7.3)
- Zidane Sereri (7)
- Feisal Salum Abdalla (6.6)
- I. S. Nado (7.2)
- J. Kitambala (6.5)
Maniema Union
Substitutions:
Azam
- Zidane Sereri (Abdul Suleiman, 70)
- S. Kanoute (Jean – Jacques Ngita, 70)
- J. Kitambala (Lameck Elias Lawi, 81)
- I. S. Khamis (C. Diakite, 90)
Maniema Union
- Clément Pitroipa (Obed Mbala, 68)
- C. Ozome (Prince Soussou, 68)
- B. Namboka (B. C. Panzi, 83)
Ball possession:
Passes:
Defense:
Face-to-face:
Fouls:
- Feisal Salum Abdalla (Azam) at 84 minute
- Lameck Elias Lawi (Azam) at 86 minute
- Lusajo Elukaga Mwaikenda (Azam) at 89 minute
- Jeancy Lita (Maniema Union) at 43 minute
- Abedi Bokomboli (Maniema Union) at 56 minute
Yellow cards:
The last five games (including this match):
- Azam – L
- Maniema Union – W
Top 5 CAF Confederation Cup scorers:
- Mohamed El Sayed Hashem (2, AL Masry)
- Pomi Nzaou (2, )
- Seifeddine Jaziri (2, Zamalek SC)
- Salah Mohsen Mohamed Shalabi (1, AL Masry)
- Chadoma Mukeni (1, Maniema Union)
Line-ups:
Next games:
- Azam will play with Wydad AC. February 15 at 14:00 (GMT), on Stade Larbi Zaouli.
- Maniema Union will play with Nairobi United. February 15 at 13:00 (GMT), on None.
