Stade Malien will fight for survival in the CAF Confederation Cup as they take on Paynesville FC in the second leg of their preliminary round tie this Friday. After a narrow 1-0 defeat in Monrovia last week, the Malian side faces an uphill battle, needing to win by at least two goals to progress to the next stage of the competition.
The stakes are high for both teams, with Stade Malien under pressure to deliver in front of their home fans, while the Liberian visitors are determined to defend their slim advantage and make history by securing a spot in the group stage for the first time.
Stade Malien, one of Mali’s most successful clubs, have a strong pedigree in African competitions and will be relying on their experience and home advantage to overturn the first-leg deficit. Coach Nouhoum Diané’s side knows they will need to start aggressively and impose their game early to rattle Paynesville and make up for their misstep in Monrovia.
With the likes of Abdoulaye Coulibaly and Soumaila Magassouba anchoring the defense, and the midfield duo of Nankoma Keita and Lassine Kouma dictating the tempo, the Malians will look to unlock Paynesville’s defense with pace and precision.
“We know what is at stake and what we need to do. It is all about focus and playing our game.
We have to be aggressive and finish our chances this time around,” said Stade Malien captain Moussa Diallo ahead of the crucial fixture.
On the other side, Paynesville FC are on the cusp of achieving a significant milestone in their club’s history.
Having secured a vital 1-0 victory in the first leg, they are now just 90 minutes away from an unprecedented qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
The Liberians will need to be resolute defensively, with captain Eugene Swen leading by example in keeping the opposition at bay.
Head coach Wilfred Jebor is aware of the enormity of the task his team faces in Bamako but remains confident that they can withstand the expected pressure from Stade Malien.
“We know they will come at us, but we are ready for the challenge.
We have worked hard for this, and the boys are determined to make Liberia proud,” Jebor stated.
The match promises to be a tense affair, with Stade Malien expected to dominate possession and push forward in search of goals, while Paynesville FC will likely look to frustrate their hosts and strike on the counterattack.
Here are the official line-ups for the game:
- Stade Malien:
Ngolo Traore, Abdoulaye Coulibaly, Mamadou Doumbia, Soumaila Magassouba, Dramane Traore, Nankoma Keita, Lassine Kouma, Moussa Diallo, Souleymane Dramane, Moctar Cisse, Siaka Diaby - Paynesville FC:
Edward Ledlum, Mark Paye, Jenkins Sieh, Lawrence Kumeh, A. Kamara, Emmanuel Wakaso, Eugene Swen (C), Chris Dennis, Ayetay Yangbe, Tupee Darwoe, Emmanuel Deanneh (GK)
With a place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage hanging in the balance, both teams will be leaving everything on the pitch, making this a must-watch encounter.
