Malawi’s Caf Champions League flag carriers FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have refused to get carried away with their first leg 2-1 victory over Red Arrows of Zambia.
The match took place at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Bullets mentor Kalisto Pasuwa has called for clinical finishing and good defending when they face Arrows in the return leg at Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia.
The Zimbabwean tactician has, however, expressed worry over his side’s finishing prowess and defensive flaws both locally and internationally.
“If we are to progress to the next round, then we need to take half chances and turn them into goals, something we have not been able to do in most of our local matches in the league.
“We have also struggled and conceded goals we should have of lacking defensive leadership following massive injuries at the back. This is the reason we have tried different combinations but we need to improve on this in Zambia,” Pasuwa said.
He admitted that Arrows were a good side as the People’s Team had to come from behind to secure victory.
“They are tactically good. They keep and protect the ball from the opponent,” he said.
The Bullets mentor also expects his charges to play under an intimidating atmosphere like they faced when they were booted out of the continental league by TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Lubumbashi, where they lost 4-0 to bow out 5-0 on aggregate.
“We should also be ready to play under tough conditions in an away match, which most of our players know very well, as it also happened in Mazembe,” Pasuwa said.
During the match, Ricky Banda gave the visitors the lead in the 57th minute before Babatunde Adepoju equalised for the hosts.
Precious Phiri scored Bullets’ winning goal five minutes later.
Meanwhile, Arrows Coach Chisi Mbewe was philosophical in his response, saying playing at home does not give them an advantage and called on his charges to be on top of their game to stand a chance of progressing to the next round.
“We made some mistakes after taking the lead. We know what is at stake if we are to progress. It [the loss] is a call for us to prepare well. Football has changed a lot. There is nothing like playing at home,” Mbewe said.
Since 2000, this is Bullets’ eighth appearance in the Caf Champions League, with the biggest achievement coming in 2004 when they finished in the last eight when they got booted out by Nigeria’s Enyimba.
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