By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
CF Mounana coach Soccoia Lionel has said it is impossible for Power Dynamos to overturn the 4-0 deficit and progress to the next round of the CAF 2015 Confederation Cup competition.
The Gabonese side arrived in the country yesterday ahead of this Saturday return tie against Power at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe with the home side expected to score five unanswered goals to advance.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) executive member Happy Munkondya and Power Dynamos officials received the Mounana delegation that arrived around 14:45 at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport SMKIA aboard an Ethiopian Airline.
Lionel said in an interview that nothing will deter his team from qualifying to the second round because Mounana’s main objective is to progress in the competition.
“We have a team that will withstand Power Dynamos’ pressure and protect the four-goal lead that we have. I am not going to maintain the same team that beat Power in Libreville,” Lionel said.
He said his charges are well prepared and will not easily let their advantage slip away because Power is equally a good side.
“The team is injury free and I am not going to make any changes to the squad and we are here to seal qualification,” he said.
Midfielder David Tyavkase said the team spirit in the Mounana camp was high and that the Gabonese were not in Zambia to defend the four goals but to score as well.
“We know that the job was done in Libreville and we cannot go to sleep to allow Power to score five goals or even reduce the deficit to two goals. We will be up to secure a place in the second round,” Tyavkase said.
Meanwhile, Power chief executive officer Ricky Mamfunda remained confident that the Kitwe side will overturn the deficit and qualify to the second round.
Mamfunda said not all hope was lost for Power in the tournament as the Tenant Chilumba led technical bench has worked on the lapses that led into a huge loss in Gabion.
“We still have 90 minutes to play and I think we are still in it and we are very confident that we can overhaul the four-goal deficit. If that fails, I will be the first one to concede defeat,” Mamfunda said.