Red Arrows coach Chisi Mbewe has urged his side to remain defensively solid and disciplined as they prepare for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second-round tie against Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa.
The Airmen secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the South African giants at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Saturday, with Alassane Diarra scoring the decisive goal in the 76th minute.
However, Mbewe believes his players must continue improving despite gaining an advantage ahead of the return leg.
“Coming into this game, we knew it was not going to be an easy encounter, considering the experience and maturity Kaizer Chiefs have in this competition,” he said.
“I am happy with the way the boys fought and approached the game. Despite missing several chances, they showed great commitment and created numerous opportunities.”
Red Arrows could have extended their advantage after creating several openings, but Mbewe acknowledged that converting chances remains an area for improvement.
“Sometimes, that is the nature of football. You can create so many chances and end up scoring just one goal,” he added.
The coach stressed that his team must tighten up defensively to prevent Kaizer Chiefs from controlling the return fixture.
“However, we have to go back to training and continue improving. We need to be solid, remain compact and ensure that we do not give Kaizer Chiefs the space to dictate play,” Mbewe said.
The Zambian side will travel to South Africa with a slender advantage, knowing that another disciplined performance could secure their place in the lucrative group stage of the continental competition.
“We are pleased with the result, but we know there are areas we need to work on as we prepare for the next match in South Africa,” he concluded.
Red Arrows will need to maintain their composure in the second leg as they seek to complete the job against a Kaizer Chiefs side determined to overturn the deficit on home soil.
