The goal for the Congolese club, scored in the second half by Wilden Bokouya who had just come off the bench, puts them in the driver’s seat. The Congolese, who control their own destiny, will approach the return leg scheduled for October 26 at the Alphonse Massamba-Débat stadium with a significant psychological advantage, especially since they now know the formula to go as far as possible.
Incidentally, it was under similar circumstances that the Congolese representative eliminated the Angolan team Primeiro de Agosto. After winning 2-1 in Luanda, the Congolese team held on for a 0-0 draw in the return leg in Brazzaville. With the first leg now behind them, AS Otohô, already aware of their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, must approach the second leg with the same determination to not let a qualification that is within their grasp slip away, while keeping in mind that the myth of intimidating away stadiums is now abolished.
Eliminating a Mozambican club without any competitive matches under their belt would be sweet revenge after last season’s failure at this same stage against Black Bulls, another Maputo club.
It is worth noting that AS Otohô has not reached the group stage since the 2021-2022 season. If they qualify, they will enter the third group stage in their history, after 2021-2022 and 2018-2019.