CAF Champions League: Maniema Union on the brink of history
AS Maniema Union are close to the greatest achievement in their history, a place in the CAF Champions League group stage
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Saturday could go down in the record books for AS Maniema Union. The Kindu club are on the verge of a historic qualification for the Champions League group stage.
The Congolese side visit Angola's Petro Atlético on Saturday (15:00 GMT) in the second preliminary round, second leg. Winners of the first leg (2-1) in Kinshasa, the Unionistes can settle for a draw to pull off a feat that remains their main goal on the continent this season.
The determination of an entire squad
For a team only in their second CAF Champions League campaign, getting the better of one of Africa's big names was hard to imagine. And the first-leg win over Petro showed more than enough that AS Maniema Union have matured and gained experience.
Their first-ever win over TP Mazembe in the league (2-0) last season was already a sign of the Kindu club's rise, though they must still avoid defeat in Luanda after winning the first leg by just a one-goal margin, while also conceding at home.
The team's coach, Papy Kimoto, remains calm about it. "We won the first leg by just one goal, admittedly, but it is prestigious for us and we have come to Luanda with the firm determination to bring qualification back home," he said.
The coach added: "To pull off this feat and write history, we are counting only on ourselves. You may believe Petro are stronger than us, but we are confident and sure of our strengths to secure qualification."
AS Maniema Union travelled to Angola with their full squad. Founded in 2005, Maniema Union are not only taking part in the CAF Champions League for the second time, but the club have also already played in the Confederation Cup three times without reaching the group stage.