BBC SPORT | Football | Africa | CAF club competitions



By Chris Simpson in Dakar

Jeanne d'Arc coach Amsata Fall believes that a lack of match practice cost his side victory over TP Mazembe in Dakar on Saturday.

Mazembe win battle of the giant-killers

Mazembe now top group A with six points after beating the Senegalese 1-0 away from home.

Fall told BBC Sport Online his players had lacked pace in Saturday's second round match.

"We just could not accelerate past a packed and well-organised Congolese defence," Fall said.

The only exception was Mouhamadou Diaow, whose spirited runs down the wing, particularly in the second half, kept TP Mazembe on their toes.

Fall said Jeanne d'Arc might have deserved a draw but certainly not a win.

However the Senegalese coach believes that his team is still well-placed to qualify for the next round of the competition.

"The home match against Raja of Casablanca in a fortnight's time will be crucial," he admitted.

Tp Mazembe squad
Mazembe expected a tougher reception from fans
TP Mazembe coach, Joseph Mukeba, was generous in his reaction to the match.

"Jeanne d'Arc paid the price for one mistake at the back but they are still serious contenders," he said.

The President of the Congolese FA, Kurara M'Pova added that Mazembe's victory was a huge boost for Congolese football.

But said he had expected a much tougher reception at the L�opold Senghor stadium. "I was unpleasantly surprised. If Jeanne d'Arc came to play TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi the stadium would be full to bursting," he said.

"I can't believe that for a match of such importance the terraces were empty. To win you need fans cheering from first whistle to the end and that just wasn't the case here, unfortunately."


	Links to more CAF club competitions stories