SaturdayFirst legOnze Créateurs Vs Rayon Sports 7p.m

Rayon Sports will need to get a good result way to Mali’s Onze Créateurs today in the first leg of the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup to give themselves a chance of reaching the next round.

The return leg will be played in Kigali next weekend.

And, Djuma Masudi has challenged his boys to stand up to the challenge today at Stade Modibo Keita in Bamako and complete the job in the return leg.

Rwanda’s representatives reached the first round of the continental competition after easing past South Sudan’s Al Wau Salaam in the preliminary on a 6-0 goal aggregate.

Masudi says his team is in high spirits.

"We have generally played good football this season, so we need to just continue doing what we’ve been doing all season, a win away from home would greatly boost out chances for qualifying for the second round,” Masudi told Saturday Sport from Bamako, where the team arrived on Thursday.

He stated: "The aim is to get goals in Mali and I don’t see anything strange with the situation on the ground, the only thing we have to do is to stay focused and play our normal game.”

"Based on a few of their videos that we have managed to watch Onze Créateurs are a strong side defensively and they are effective with counter attacks,” said the former Burundi international.

The ex-Rayon captain added: "You cannot compare Onze Créateurs with Wau Salaam but our objective this weekend is to get a good away result, hopefully a win to put ourselves in a strong position to advance to next round. The pressure will be on them to attack, which will leave them exposed at the back.”

Playing in a CAF competition for the first time as coach, Masudi will look to capitalise on the two Malian forwards in his squad, Moussa Camara and Tidiane Kone, who will be motivated by the desire to shine in front of their compatriots.  

However, Masudi will be without central defenders Abdoul Rwatubyaye (after failing to acquire CAF license in time) and Ange Mutsinzi (suspension), as well as full-back Abouba Sibomana (injury) and attacking midfielder Djabel Manishimwe (injury).

The 16 triumphant teams from this first round two-legged fixture will face the 16 losers from the Champions League first round. The 16 eventual winners of the play-off round will advance to the lucrative group stage.

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