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The Brewers head into the East African encounter hoping to build on their narrow progression past Sudan’s Al Ahli Wad Madani in the first round, while Singida arrive with a commanding scoring record from their opening-round tie.

Tusker FC will be aiming to take a crucial first-leg advantage when they host Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars in the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, October 18, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 pm.

The Brewers head into the East African encounter hoping to build on their narrow progression past Sudan’s Al Ahli Wad Madani in the first round, while Singida arrive with a commanding scoring record from their opening-round tie.

Tusker advanced 3-2 on aggregate after drawing 2-2 away in the first leg before securing a 1-0 victory at Nyayo, with Chrispine Erambo scoring the decisive goal to send the Kenyan side through.

Singida, however, enjoyed a more comfortable passage, recording a 10-1 aggregate victory over South Sudan’s El Ghazira. They won the first leg 7-1 away before completing the job with a 3-0 home victory.

Kenyan forward Mathew Tegisi, formerly of Shabana FC, will be among the players Tusker must watch closely after scoring a hat-trick in the opening leg of Singida’s tie.

Despite the difference in the teams’ first-round results, Tusker head coach Julien Mette has challenged his young squad to approach the contest with confidence rather than intimidation.

The Frenchman acknowledges Singida’s greater continental experience, financial resources and the strength of the Tanzanian league, but insists those factors should not determine the outcome before the teams take to the pitch.

“We are not facing a big giant. We are facing a better team who plays in a better league, who has a bigger budget. But that’s not a giant,” Mette said.

The coach wants his players to maintain their attacking identity instead of adopting a defensive approach designed primarily to avoid conceding at home. With the return leg scheduled for Tanzania on October 25, Tusker will be keen to secure a positive result before travelling for the decisive encounter.

“The plan is to play as usual, play to win first of all, not thinking about not conceding, because if you start to implement that in the mentality of the players, they will be a little scared,” he added.

Mette believes the tie remains evenly balanced despite Singida’s apparent advantage on paper, pointing to mentality and execution as key factors in determining who progresses to the group stage.

“For me, it’s 50-50. It’s about the elite mentality of the players and the team,” he said.

Tusker will draw confidence from their opening domestic assignment, where they defeated Ulinzi Stars 2-0 in their league opener, with new signings Alvin Mangeni and Victor Mbaoma finding the net.

Singida, meanwhile, have had a mixed spell in domestic competition since their continental victory, drawing 1-1 with Dodoma Jiji before losing 1-0 to Coastal Union.

However, the Tanzanian side’s attacking output in the first round means Tusker cannot afford to underestimate their visitors. The Brewers will need to remain disciplined defensively while making the most of their opportunities in front of goal.

Mette has identified a handful of experienced players, including Abud Omar, John Otieno, Victor Mbaoma and Endinga, as important figures in helping the relatively young squad navigate the demands of continental football.

He also believes the quality of the Nyayo playing surface and support from the home crowd could help Tusker impose their style.

The stakes are high, with the winner of the two-legged tie earning a place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. For Tusker, Sunday’s match is an opportunity to take a major step towards that target, but Singida’s firepower presents a stern examination of their continental ambitions.