Rayon Sports activities head coach Francis Christian Haringingo has expressed confidence that his workforce can get rid of Cameroon’s Panthère Sportive du Ndé from the 2026 CAF Confederation Cup, regardless of being with out three key gamers for the decisive return leg.
Midfielder Issa Djiguiba, Mohammed Ouattara and Elie Mokono ‘Eldinho will miss the crunch sport resulting from registration points after their paperwork reached CAF past the required deadline.
The Blues will host Panthère at Amahoro Stadium on Saturday, September 12, carrying a slight benefit following a hard-fought 1-1 draw within the first leg in Cameroon.
Talking forward of the sport, Haringingo insisted that the unavailability of Djiguiba, Ouattara and Mokono ‘Eldinho’ is not going to derail his aspect’s ambitions.
“We had sufficient time to arrange as a result of we all know this can be a tough match, however we even have the benefit of taking part in in entrance of our supporters,” Haringingo stated.
“The primary leg helped us perceive their model of play and the way we must always strategy the return leg.”
Though the trio stays unavailable for the preliminary-round tie, Rayon Sports activities will obtain a lift with the return of Tony Kitoga, who missed the primary leg resulting from travel-document points.
The three ineligible gamers have continued coaching with the squad and are anticipated to be accessible within the subsequent spherical ought to Rayon Sports activities progress previous the Cameroonian outfit.
Past the rapid stakes, Saturday’s encounter will rekindle a continental rivalry that dates again greater than a decade.
The 2 golf equipment beforehand met within the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup preliminary spherical, the place Rayon Sports activities accomplished a double over Panthère du Ndé, successful 1-0 in Cameroon earlier than securing one other 1-0 victory in Kigali to advance.
That historical past provides the Kigali-based aspect an added psychological edge. The truth is, Rayon Sports activities stay unbeaten in opposition to Panthère in CAF competitors, having received each conferences in 2015 and drawn the primary leg of the present tie 1-1.
Nevertheless, Haringingo is cautious of counting on previous outcomes, stressing that qualification might be earned solely via a powerful efficiency on the pitch.
