Jaraaf of Dakar faces Orapa United FC of Botswana this Sunday at 4 p.m., at the Me Abdoulaye Wade stadium in Diamniadio for the 4th day of the group stage of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup. This match, played behind closed doors due to sanctions imposed by CAF, is decisive for the Senegalese club’s qualification ambitions.
The Medina team, led by Malick Daff, is approaching this meeting with determination. “We are going to play a very important match, a match which can lead us towards qualification. We know that there are not a thousand solutions. The only thing is to play and try to win,” the coach said at a press conference on Saturday.
After a draw obtained in the first leg in Gaborone, Jaraaf, which has only two points in three matches, is obliged to win to maintain its chances of qualifying for the quarter-final. “It will not be an easy match. But in football, nothing is impossible. You have to have self-confidence, remain humble, calm and work to win this match,” added Malick Daff.
The closed session imposed by CAF results from incidents that occurred during the match between Jaraaf and USMA of Algiers on December 8. At the end of this meeting, clashes between supporters led to significant material damage in the stands and locker rooms of the stadium. As a result, the CAF disciplinary body sanctioned Jaraaf with four matches behind closed doors in interclub competitions, two of which were suspended.
This lack of support from the stands is regretted by coach Malick Daff, who would have preferred to play in front of the Senegalese public. However, he remains confident in his players’ ability to meet this crucial challenge.
Despite a difficult start to the campaign, Jaraaf continues to believe in its chances. Qualified for the group stage, the team showed that it could compete with its opponents in a group where everything remains open. “We have been preparing for this competition since the start of the season. Nothing is lost yet,” insisted Malick Daff.
With the obligation to achieve a result, this match represents an opportunity for the Medina club to raise the bar and get back into the race for qualification.
M DIOP
