TP Mazembe staged a solid display in Lilongwe, Malawi, beating FCB Nyasa Big Bullets 0-1 in the Total Energies CAF Champions League.

Mazembe scored an early goal from Cheick Fofana in the 6th minute, who released a thunderous shot almost 20 yards out that ended in the Bullets’ net.

Mazembe defended the goal well and survived numerous attempts from the home team, forcing the game to end with them narrowly ahead.

The two sides will face each other in the second-leg match on September 30 in Lubumbashi. The winner of the second-leg meeting will go straight into the group stages.

This was the third defeat for the Bullets at home in continental competitions. They also lost 3-1 to AmaZulu in 2021, and 2-0 to Simba last year.

Bullets missed the services of three key players, attacker Peter Banda, defender Blessings Mpokera, and striker Maxwell Phodo, due to injuries.

Nyasa explains the home defeat

Head coach Kallisto Pasuwa said missing players like Phodo, who has two CAF goals, was a huge setback.

In a post-match interview, Pasuwa, who has yet to reach the group stages with Bullets in CAF since 2018, said his side lacked movement in the final third.

He added that his charges have chances of turning the tables, but the atmosphere in Congo is always difficult, with fans using all tactics.

“We will go to Congo, and we will play, aiming to win away. The other setback we have now is injuries, as I will miss a lot of players on our trip to Congo,” he said.

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Mazembe coach Lamine Ndiaye said he told his players not to underestimate Bullets and it was the same mentality that helped them win the match.

He said nothing is done yet, even if his side won away on Sunday.

“Our strategy was solidarity and not to allow Bullets to pass the ball in our half, a thing that helped because Bullets had no clear shot on target,” he said.

Ndiaye further said he is expecting a difficult game in the return leg in Lubumbashi.