Stade Malien faced a challenging match on Sunday against Tout-Puissant Mazembe in the first leg of the CAF Cup semi-final, resulting in a 1-2 loss on their home turf. Despite the setback, coach Pascal Janin remains optimistic, acknowledging the difficulty but expressing belief in the team’s potential to turn things around in the return match.
In his post-match comments, Janin emphasized that football has witnessed turnarounds before, highlighting that although facing a solid opponent, Mazembe did not dominate throughout the match. He noted that Mazembe appeared physically tired in the second half, presenting opportunities for Stade Malien to exploit in the return leg. While acknowledging the complexity of the task, Janin expressed hope for a positive outcome if luck favors them.
Captain Soumbeyla Diakité echoed the sentiment, stating that the team is heading to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the intention of creating a surprise. Diakité acknowledged errors made by Stade Malien during the match, particularly in the first 20 minutes of the first half, where passing mistakes occurred. Despite missed opportunities, he emphasized the team’s ability to create chances and remains determined to capitalize on them in the return leg.
