LAGOS: Two-time CAF Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien will defend a slim lead against Sudan’s Al Hilal in the second leg of their semi-final tie on Sunday.
Two weeks ago, Sfaxien scraped a 1-0 win over Al Hilal in Tunisia.
Sfaxien prevailed in Sfax through a 36th-minute goal by midfielder Kamel Zaiem and they will now have to be at their best against the Sudanese side, who also reached the last four of this competition three years ago.
Al Hilal finished top of Group A with 13 points from six matches, while Sfaxien, whose Nigerian forward Uche Agba is a major injury doubt, qualified after finishing second place in Group B with 10 points.
The Sudanese giants will also be able to draw upon home support on Sunday as they bid to reach the final of Africa’s second club competition.
"We played so well away in Tunisia but they got their only goal when they broke through our central defence," said defender Yusuf Mohammed.
"But despite the loss, the whole team, including our coach Micho (Sredojevic Milutin), were very happy because we dominated the game and could have even won or at worst drawn the match if we had taken our chances.
"After the match our coach told us that we will have the advantage of scoring two or three goals in the return leg in Omdurman.
"We all believe him because we have never failed in our stadium and most especially in the presence of our fans in Sudan."
He added: "We have to be very careful in our defense, while our attackers have to be more deadly up front. We are confident we can win convincingly to ensure we reach the final.
"We are yet to win this competition and so we will be making history if we do so, now that we have a very strong side that can really achieve this ambition."
In the other semi-final second leg on Friday, little-known Moroccan side FUS Rabat will be fancied to reach their first ever continental final after they won the first leg 2-1 at Al Ittihad.
The Moroccans won in Libya with goals from Hichem El Fatihi and Mohamed Benchrifa and are now just a game away from reaching the final of the Confederation Cup on their debut appearance.
However, they will be without Niger international striker Alhassane Issoufou Dante, who saw red in the first half in Tripoli.
