AZAM FC head coach Youssouph Dabo has pointed out that lack of determination and clinicality among his players led to a goalless draw against Mashujaa FC in a 2023/24 NBC Premier League duel at Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

The host, now sitting second in the top flight, missed an opportunity to move up so it could close its points gap with Yanga- now topping the league.

Dabo said it is impossible for Azam FC to win every match but expressed his disappointment that Mashujaa FC played with authority and had a good plan to stop his players.

Mashujaa FC came from challenging back-to-back matches, one of which was the CRDB Federation Cup tie, which pitted it against Simba SC.

The Kigoma side emerged victorious in the encounter via penalties and advanced to the quarterfinals, which will see it come up against Azam FC.

Senegalese tactician Dabo also said his players squandered many opportunities- something that led to the draw.

"We lacked concentration during the match, our concentration was very low during the match, we did not commit while attacking, Mashujaa were very effective in distractions, especially in our midfield zone, we were not effective," the tactician revealed.

"We started the match well, we found spaces but Mashujaa FC played so much in their defensive zone, they tried to hit us in the counter-attacks, we needed to be patient to push them to run a lot behind the ball so that we can exploit them, something that we couldn't realize," the gaffer pointed out.

"I think the team is improving so much in many aspects, we have to improve our mindset, we can not win 3-0, 4-1, or 2-0 in every game... there are games we can win by only one goal and march forward. We need to work on these things," Dabo noted.

His charges have three games ahead of Simba SC, with one game set to witness the Chamazi Street club coming up against Simba.

Azam FC has three games in hand- to be played at its stadium- out of seven games left in the NBC Premier League.

Dabo called on his players to improve results, add pressure on the table-topper, Yanga, and secure the CAF Champions League spot.

The ice cream makers have 51 points on the league log- four behind Yanga, which has two games in hand, while third-placed Simba has 46 points.