Nairobi United midfielder highlights reason for defeat to AS Maniema
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 01.12.25. | 16:32
Speaking after the match, Machaka, who has established himself as a key member of the team, identified the various factors his team lacked that led to the defeat
Nairobi United attacking midfielder Enock Machaka has listed the shortfalls that led to their loss to Congolese club AS Maniema.
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Naibois hosted Maniema in a CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) Group B match on Sunday, 30 November at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which the latter won 1-0.
The loss was the second in two matches for the Mozzart Bet Cup champions in the group stage and the first on home soil.
Speaking after the match, Machaka, who has established himself as a key member of the team, identified the various factors his team lacked that led to the defeat.
“The forwards must be clinical to help the team. If defense is playing well, yet we do not get goals up front, we will be losing. Starting with myself, we must up our game in the forward line,” said Machaka.
“We did not utilise our chances, especially in the first half when we could have scored about three goals. This is a tournament and not a league. When you waste your chances, and the opponent scores, it complicates your chances of progressing,” he added.
Naibois were guilty of squandering chances as Michael Karamor, Dancan Omalla and Shami Mwinyi all got an opportunity to give the team the lead in the first half.
While the Johnson Sakaja-backed side dominated the first half, they fizzled out in the closing half, a matter Machaka weighed in on.
“In the second half, we played a lot of long balls, which went to their advantage due to their physical stature.
We lost due to experience. We were tactically superior, we kept the ball, created chances, but we did not score, unlike them, who buried their biggest chance of the day, which I believe is due to experience,” he explained.
Despite the loss, the 27-year-old had an important takeaway from the match, which he took time to share.
“Football is for men; you have to go hard, there are no easy games. They came at us with all they had, and that is something we must add to our game.”
