Azam set up Esperance clash

TANZANIAN envoys Azam FC have qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup last-16 stage following a glut of goals in the return leg tie against South Africa’s Bidvest Wits at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.

Ivorian striker Kipre Tchetche led Azam FC to a 4-3 home win, scoring a hat-trick and setting the other as Stewart Hall’s charges completed a 7-3 aggregate victory, having comfortably won 3-0 in the first leg a week ago in Johannesburg.

While celebrating making it to the round of 16 in a continental competition for the first time, Azam would be disappointed after conceding three times at home with a tougher test against Esperance de Tunis coming up in the last 16.

It had been sought to be a rubber stamp fixture for the Ice-Cream makers following that resounding win away but, Wits refused to throw in the towel and ensured the game was a thriller to watch for neutrals.

Hall was boosted with the presence of his professional players, namely Ivorian striker Kipre Tchetche, Rwandan midfielder Jean Mugiraneza and Kenyan Allan Wanga. The trio could not feature in the first leg after their documents presented by club management in Johannesburg failed to match with those at CAF forcing the governing body to leave them out of the tie.

Kipre Tchetche was named in the starting line-up, partnering John Bocco up front, with Mugiraneza and Allan Wanga starting on the bench.

Wits coach Gavin Hunt, meanwhile, made four changes to the side that featured in their 3-0 defeat at home, as Wangu Gome, Liam Jordan, Paseka Sekese and Somila Ntsundwana came in for Tebogo Moerane, Dillon Sheppard, Ben Motshwari and Joaquim Lupeta.

There were some superb finishes to savour as with the Ivorian international, Tchetche scoring first with an unstoppable low drive after 23 minutes to give the Ice Cream makers a resounding 4-0 advantage.

Tchetche then turned the provider three minute before the interval, playing in a well-measured low cross for Bocco, who coolly slotted home from a close range. Jabulani Shongwe managed to pull one back for Gavin Hunt’s side just before the break as the two sides went into the interval at 2-1. The unstoppable Tchetche added the third goal for Azam in the 54th minute.

The Azam top scorer raced to a through ball from Salum Abubakar and dribbled past goalkeeper before shooting into empty nets. It was an entertaining open game as both sets of players attacked at every opportunity and Wits succeeded to pull another one back in the 59th minute through Abednigo Mosiatlhaga. Tchetche then completed his hat-trick with three minutes of regular time remaining.

Azam launched a quick counter attack from a defensive position and Tchetche broke an offside trap to make it 4-2. But a lack of concentration at the back by Azam allowed substitute Henrico Botes to get on the score sheet in the stoppage time.

Azam will face Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis in the second round. The Tunisian heavyweights saw off Chad’s Renaissance with a 7-1 win on aggregate.