CONGOLESE coach Florent Ibenge says a key tactical adjustment in the second half was the reason Azam FC secured a 2-0 victory over Mbeya City in their Mainland Premier League opener at the Azam Complex on Wednesday night.

The ice was broken in the 32nd minute when Nassro Saadun struck from close range, finishing off a well-worked corner routine. The set-piece was delivered by midfielder Feisal Salum and flicked on by Abdul Suleiman “Sopu,” leaving Saadun to guide the ball past the keeper.

 Azam doubled their advantage just seconds into the second half, when Feisal - popularly known as Fei Toto - capped off a fluid move by finishing a clever pass from Baraket Hmidi. From there, Ibenge’s men controlled the tempo and comfortably saw out the game to secure all three points without conceding.

Azam’s bright start came just a few hours after defending champions Young Africans (Yanga) opened their season with a 3-0 win over Pamba Jiji at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Reflecting on the win, Ibenge credited patience and a second-half tactical shift for breaking down Mbeya City’s defense.

“We scored the two goals because we had to be patient, and because we were facing a side that played with low blocks. It is not easy to play against a team like that. We needed to keep the ball and make them run more,” he explained.

“At half-time, I asked my players to play a bit faster and take the game to the opponent. We did that, and I think we had a much better second half than the first,” he added. The coach expressed satisfaction with the result but highlighted the need for further improvements.

“We created a lot of chances, scored two goals, and kept a clean sheet. We’re happy with the three points, but we still need to correct a few mistakes and prepare for the next assignment,” Ibenge said.

Ahead of the match, Ibenge dismissed any notion of pressure, insisting that his players should simply enjoy football. “There is no pressure. I tell my players to enjoy the game. Everyone is fit, morale is high, and we are ready. We had a good preseason, worked hard in training, and learned from our mistakes. Now it’s about starting well and recovering what we lost last season,” he explained.

Azam FC will next face JKT Tanzania on October 1 in league action, but before that, they host Al Merreikh FC of South Sudan in the CAF Confederation Cup second leg. Having already won the first leg 2-0 away, the Tanzanian side will look to protect their lead at home and secure progression to the next round of the continental competition.