NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27 – Bandari FC went down 4-2 away to Guinean side Horoya FC in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup playoff match staged in Conakry on Sunday.
Bandari, the Football Kenya Federation Shield champions, got their vital away goals from midfielder Abdallah Hassan and William Wadri.
The hosts, who opened the account in the first minute of the game received their goals from Aristide Bance who notched a hat-trick while Dramane Nikiema netted the other goal to complete the rout.
The Kenyan side under the tutelage of Bernard Mwalala, will be hoping to make their away goals count when they host the Guinean side in a fortnight at the Kasarani Stadium for them to reach the group stage for the first time ever.
Even before Bandari could settle in the game, they found themselves on the receiving end after Burkina Faso striker Bance broke the deadlock.
The Dockers surged forward to search for the equalizer and away goal with Yema Mwamba and Hassan partnering well but the Horoya keeper punched the ball for the home team to launch a counter attack.
Horoya doubled the lead in the 10th minute through a set-piece when Nikiema also from Burkina Faso rose high to not home past the Bandari custodian.
Mwamba could have pulled one back for the visitors when he unleashed a thunderous strike but he was denied by the keeper who punched away the ball with the rebound finding Wadri but the keeper was alert to compete his double save.
However, Horoya, soaked in pressure to bring Bandari back in the game courtesy of Hassan’s goal after he connected home a Darius Msagha fine cross in the 25th minute.
Mwalala’s charged were not yet done as the goal motivated them to level the scores heading to the interval sharing spoils.
Sammy Meja brought in a cross for midfielder Collins Agade to set-up Mwamba who made no mistake as he squeezed the ball in the left corner.
On resumption, Bandari found themselves chasing the game once again after Bance made a lovely turn to strike past the Bandari keeper and grab a brace in the 55th minute.
He was at it again eight minutes later to complete a hat-trick and take the match ball home after powerfully heading home from a pin-point cross to seal the win.