Rayon Sports head coach Francis Haringingo Christian remains confident his side can overturn a two-goal deficit against Mozambique's Black Bulls when the teams meet in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round in Maputo on October 24. The Blues suffered a 2-0 defeat at Amahoro Stadium on Saturday, leaving their hopes of reaching the competition's group stage for the first time since 2018 hanging in the balance. ALSO READ: Confed. Cup: Black Bulls dent Rayon’s group stage hopes after win in Kigali Despite the setback, Haringingo insists the tie is far from over, arguing that Rayon could have secured a better result had they been more clinical in front of goal. “We had chances but failed to make the most of them. The first goal they scored brought them back into the game, although we had been the better side in the first half,” he told journalists after the match. “It came down to a lack of luck because we outplayed this Mozambican side. If we had capitalised on the chances we created, we would have won the match,” he added. The Burundian tactician believes his team's performance demonstrated that they have the quality to mount a comeback in the return leg. “Looking at the team we played, the chances we created and the goals they scored, I believe we are also capable of scoring two goals against them,” he said. The defeat has also raised questions about some of Haringingo's tactical decisions, particularly his decision to leave influential attacker Elie Tatou Iradukunda out of the matchday squad. Tatou watched the match from the stands, prompting speculation among supporters about whether injury or disciplinary concerns had contributed to his absence. Haringingo dismissed the suggestions, insisting that the decision was purely tactical. “He is fine and has no injury. However, based on how we had prepared to play, we decided not to use him. It was the coach's choice, which is why you saw him sitting there,” he explained. Rayon made several changes to their lineup against Black Bulls, handing debuts to Sandja Bulaya and Elie Eldinho, while Ibrahim Djingarey returned from injury as a substitute. Issa Djiguiba also returned to the starting lineup after missing the previous qualifying round. The Blues now face a daunting task in Maputo, where they must overturn the two-goal deficit to keep their continental campaign alive. A 2-0 victory would level the aggregate score and send the tie to a penalty shootout if the score remains unchanged after extra time, while a win by three goals or more would secure Rayon's place in the group stage. Any other result would end the Rwandan side's bid to reach the group stage for the first time since 2018. Despite the disappointment in Kigali, Haringingo remains convinced that his team can produce a different outcome in Mozambique. “We still have the second leg ahead of us. We can turn things around,” he said.
