AZAM FC head coach Youssouph Dabo expressed pride in his team’s game management as they concluded their preseason with a victory.

Lusajo Mwaikenda’s second-half header secured a 1-0 win against Rayon Sports on Saturday, in a friendly match held at the Kigali Pele Stadium in Rwanda.

Azam is set to play another Rwandan team, APR FC, in the preliminary round of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League. This friendly match against Rayon Sports served not only as preparation but also as an opportunity for the team to acclimate to the weather in Kigali.

In his post-match press conference, Dabo expressed satisfaction with the overall performance, particularly highlighting the team's game management.

“I think it was a good game, at times tough but it was good for us. Like I said before, we agreed to come here to understand the environment and to help us for the next game,” Dabo remarked.

“The performance of my team was very good. We stayed strong even when the whole stadium supported Rayon Sports. It’s good for our growth, confidence, and mentality. The most important thing is we did well, and without the ball, we defended well. It’s football when you have the ball and when you don’t have it.

“We have found solutions to the two situations, with and without the ball. We did not create a lot of chances to score. This was the kind of game where you don’t need to create many chances to score because the two teams are very compact.

“Like I said earlier, the most important thing was how we managed with and without the ball and we succeeded in doing it,” he said.

Azam's preseason has come to an end, and the Senegalese coach has plenty to consider as the 2024/25 campaign starts on Thursday. 

Azam will face Coastal Union in a Community Shield semi-final match in Zanzibar.

The team began their preparations for the new season with a 4-0 success over Zimamoto on July 12, followed by a 3-0 victory over Morocco’s US Yacoub El Mansour. 

Dabo's side then drew 1-1 with Morocco Botola Pro side Union Touarga in their third preseason outing but suffered a 4-1 defeat to Wydad in their final preseason game in Morocco.