Esperance Captain Khalil Chammam vying for the ball with Horoya's Yacouba Mando in a previous HAC - EST encounter in CAF Champions League. Photo | horoyaac.com

CAF Champions League 2019

Patrice Neveu and Horoya AC Targeting Maximum Points

Horoya AC will square off with Esperance de Tunis in the 2018/19 CAF Champions League Group B match at the Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry on Friday.

Kick-off is at 6:00 pm CAT.

The Guinean champions advanced to the group stage after overcoming Liberian side Barrack Young Controllers and Libya's Al Nasr in the qualifying rounds.

Horoya are making their second successive appearance in the group stage of the continental tournament.

Horoya head coach Patrice Neveu has stated that his side will be targeting maximum points when they lock horns with the defending champions.

"I am prepared for the opponent. We will defend our game identity, even if we also know that we must adapt to the game of the opponent since it is a champion team of Africa," Neveu said.

"As we know in a competition, it is important to take the maximum points at home. We play the biggest match of the group, so we have to manage the match."

Horoya are undefeated in their last 12 matches at home in the Champions League and they will be looking to extend their good record.

Meanwhile, Esperance were exempted from the qualifying rounds as they are defending champions.

The Tunisian champions are making their third consecutive appearance in the group stage having won the competition three times.

Moine Chaabani, the Esperance head coach, is expecting a tough encounter against Horoya in West Africa.

"Horoya will be hard to beat in west Africa," Chaabani said on SuperSport.com ahead of the encounter.

Esperance will be keen to improve their away record in the Champions League as they have lost their last two matches on the road.