Kenya Police Head Coach Reveals What They Are Banking On Ahead of CAF Champions League Return Leg Against Al Hilal Omdurman

Etienne Ndayiragije has hinted at the key factor he believes could drive his side to victory in their decisive CAF Champions League clash against Al Hilal.

Kenya Police FC head coach Etienne Ndayiragije has declared his team is fueled by a desire to make history as they aim for a first-ever qualification into the CAF Champions League group stages.

The Kenya Premier League champions are set to face Sudanese powerhouse Al Hilal Omdurman in the second leg of the preliminary round, with the winner securing a coveted spot in the next phase of the tournament.

Kenya Police FC hosted the first leg of the tournament at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, which was played behind closed doors. The Law Enforcers suffered a 0-1 defeat at home to Al Hilal.

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Coach Ndayiragije was hoping to secure a victory at home to ease the pressure ahead of the return fixture, but things did not go as planned.

This stage proved to be their undoing last season when they were heavily defeated by Egyptian giants Zamalek, but they remain hopeful ahead of the return leg.

Kenya Police FC Coach Etienne Ndayiragije: The Players Know What to Do

Speaking to Telecomasia.net, the Burundian tactician expressed confidence that his squad has gained valuable experience and learned from past mistakes.

“The players know what to do at this stage because of that experience and definitely we will not approach this match in the same way. We know that we are facing a very tough opponent and we respect him,” he said.

“But, we are ready for the challenge, and we know that it is possible to win not just this one game but over two legs. We have analysed them and we know what to expect, but we have also worked on our own strategy to give a good fight.”

While Kenya Police FC are charting new territory in continental football, their opponents, Al Hilal, are seasoned veterans who have consistently competed in the group stages.

The Sudanese club demonstrated their formidable form by defeating Tanzanian giants Simba SC 4-1 in a recent friendly match in Dar es Salaam, signalling a tough challenge ahead for the Kenyan side.

Kenya Police FC vs Al Hilal: What the First-Leg Loss Means

The recent 1-0 loss suffered by Kenya Police FC against Al Hilal Omdurman in the first leg has handed a significant advantage to their opponents.

Played at home, this defeat means the Kenyan champions must now overcome both a goal deficit and the crucial factor of the away goal conceded to Al Hilal.

This result presents a formidable task for the Kenya Police in the upcoming return fixture. Given that the away goal rule acts as the primary tie-breaker, Al Hilal has a strong footing. To advance to the lucrative group stage, the Kenyan side can no longer rely on a simple one-goal win.

Kenya Police must now travel to the second leg, which Al Hilal will host in Libya, and secure a victory that both erases the deficit and nullifies the away goal advantage.

This means they need to win by a margin of two or more goals (such as a 2-0 or 3-1) or, at the very least, pull off a 2-1 victory which would see them progress on the strength of their own away goals.

Any loss, draw, or even a 1-0 win for the Kenyan club would see Al Hilal move forward in the competition. The pressure is on Kenya Police FC to deliver a historic performance away from home to keep their continental dream alive.