Marumo Gallants will have to dig deep to reach the CAF Confederation Cup group stages after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Al Ahli Tripoli in the first leg on Wednesday evening.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Ahli Tripoli 1-0 Marumo Gallants
Date: 02 November 2022
Venue: Martyrs of February Stadium
Gallants made two changes to the side that beat Cape Town City, as Monde Mphambaniso and Lesiba Nku took the places of Sizwe Mdlinzo and Sibusiso Sibeko.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa reached this stage after cruising to a 4-1 win on aggregate over Madagascan side Elgeco Plus in the second preliminary round.
Al Ahli, in contrast, were involved in the CAF Champions League group stages qualifiers but dropped down a tier after they were edged out by Sudanese side Al Merreikh on away goals, following a 3-3 draw on aggregate.
The Libyan side had a perfect start after going ahead within the first minute courtesy of Anis Saltou and could have taken a 2-0 lead with just 15 minutes on the clock but goalkeeper Washington Arubi made a great save to keep Gallants in the game.
Dan Malesela's charges, who were playing without a natural striker, with Katlego Otladisa, Celimpilo Ngema and Joseph Molangoane the furthest forward, could not find a response, as they went to the halftime break trailing by an odd goal.
The South African side had a bright start in the second stanza as Thato Khiba had a golden opportunity five minutes in after having a clear sight of goal from a square pass in the box but he could not find the target.
As the game wore on, with just five substitutes named on the bench by Gallants and most of them being defenders, the Gallants coaching staff did not have the luxury of refreshing his attack.
However, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa eventually brought on Brandon Mokgope in the dying minutes in place of Nku as they looked to clinch an away goal.
However in the end, Gallants could not find a way past the Tripoli defenceand will be hoping to turn the tables in the second leg next Wednesday on home soil.
Here's how they lined up:
Marumo Gallants: Arubi, Khiba, Gumede, Toure, Mabotja, Kumalo, Ngema, Mphambaniso, Otladisa, Molangoane, Nku.
Subs: Ngcobo, Kgoetyane, Nkili, Mokgope, Nonyane
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