Al Hilal gaffer Florent Ibenge has aired that he will like to see Cotonsport and Al Hilal at their frightening best, so as to offer football fans a spectacle at the Roumde Adjia stadium on Friday.
The celebrated Congolese trainer guided Hilal to victory on match day two against Ahly, but wants to see a turbo-charged Cotonsport on Friday, in day 3 of the TotalEnergies CAF champions league.
‘We hope that Cotonsport are in their best form. I am from central Africa and will love others to see that the region produces good football.
‘The game will be difficult. Cotonsport is a good team despite that they lost the first game at home. I will love the both sides to perform well because in all, football is a spectacle,’ the 61-year-old opined.
Ibenge was CAF champions league runner-up with AS Vita in 2014, and it is the experience that made him point out that football has its realities, despite what the coaches do, using Cotonsport as an example.
‘This level is played with little details. Even with the Cotonsport-Sundowns game, the pass that was given by the defender costed the team.
‘I like to win by merit. I will like that the both teams are in their best possible form and Cotonsport can have an Improved performance,’ coach Ibenge ended.
The former RS Berkane coach is looking to take Hilal out of the group stage for the first time since 2015 when they made the semi final.
Lilepo produced a moment of magic and the game’s only goal when the Congolese attacker boldly struck to a free kick pass El Shenawy in Hilal’s one-nil victory against Ahly. But before then, Cassius Mailula’s lone goal gifted Sundowns maximum points against Al Hilal on game day one.
A victory for the men of Florent Ibenge will see them match Sundowns’ 6-point tally and render group B even more interesting, with 4 spare games left.
