Ben Youssef gives his opinion to the media about Ashley du Preez's performance against AS Simba! | OneFootball

The Tunisian coach speaks about his player very frankly.

Ben Youssef gives his opinion to the media about Ashley du Preez's performance against AS Simba!

A night of nail-biting tension in Lubumbashi saw Kaizer Chiefs and AS Simba locked in a stalemate, but it was a tale of agonizingly missed chances that left the Amakhosi faithful wondering what could have been. The woodwork shuddered, a goalkeeper pulled off a spectacular save, and most memorably, an open goal was inexplicably missed, turning what should have been a triumphant away leg into a goalless draw.

In the aftermath, co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef reflected on the fine margins that define football. He pinpointed the crucial moments that slipped through their fingers, stating, “I think in the first half we got two opportunities to score. We were unlucky. One of them was the crossbar of Mayo, and the second in the 88th minute,” before adding on the most glaring miss, “I think a good combination between Shabalala and Vilakazi, and then Shabalala gave Ashley the ball. He was unlucky. Even though it was an empty goal, he was unlucky. The ball was out.”

This result sets the stage for a nerve-shredding second leg at Dobsonville Stadium, where any scoring draw would see Chiefs eliminated. Despite the frustration, Ben Youssef stood by the team's strategic approach. “I think we succeeded in the plan of the game, how we managed the first 45 minutes, and we know that in the second half, we would find a lot of space. And we got two opportunities in the second half to score, but we were unlucky not to score.”

Fully aware of the challenge that awaits, the coach acknowledged the threat posed by a physically imposing Simba side, noting, “Also, I think it will be tough for us. It will be difficult because the Simba team is a good team. They show us a lot of quality today [Saturday]. It’s a physical team; they are not a tactical team. A lot of physique.”

Now, the focus shifts to redemption. With a week to prepare, the mission is clear: analyze, adapt, and advance. As Ben Youssef put it, “We’ll have time to analyse again, this game, and to find and prepare our team for the next game. Our target is to be first in the group stage, then to manage game by game, and we try to do our best to make our fans happy about the situation.” The journey continues, with everything still to play for.