Football: Chan qualifiers: Mauritius looking to cement victory on Saturday |27 April 2017

The Mauritius national team arrived in Seychelles on Tuesday night and have immediately settled in their training sessions at Stad Linite, where they are aiming to preserve their first leg win from last weekend’s match in the African Nation Championship (Chan) qualifiers.

Seychelles will face another stiff challenge from Mauritius when the two rivals meet at Stad Linite on Saturday and the latter have arrived for the match with the aim of validating their first leg with another one here in two days’ time.

Mauritius won the opening match on a 2-1 score and hold the advantage, although an away goal for Seychelles also make things a little more difficult for the visitors.

Sports NATION met the side during their training session yesterday where Congolese coach Joe Tshupula, explained that his team know what they have to do.

“In Mauritius we played well and got a slight advantage of a Seychelles team who were looking to preserve the chance for the return leg and I am satisfied with our performance although the result perhaps left a bitter taste and now the most important thing is to validate that home win with another good result here,” said coach Tshupula.

Unlike Seychelles, who have a complete pool of talent to choose from due to the rules of the Chan tournament, Mauritius are without a few of their star names, including captain Kevin Bru who plays for English Football Championship side Ipswich Town.

The team are without three players who were in the side who played in the first leg match and they have been replaced by three new names.

Coach Tshupula added that he wants his side to work for the win and not rely on luck for this game as he knows it will not be easy.

“We know it will be complicated here and we have to put in the work, which is what we always want to do, especially as we know the importance of this match,” said the former Cercle de Joachim coach.

When asked who he feels will be the dangerman for Seychelles, he replied that he feels Seychelles are a collective side with good quality, which is also the way he wants his team setup, so there are no star players but a standout performance from the whole team.

The match is expected to kick off at 4.30pm at Stad Linite. Tickets cost R35 and R50 with free entrance for children below the age of 12. Food and beverages will also be on sale outside the stadium.

S. N.