AZAM FC departed the country on Wednesday bound for Kinshasa, DR Congo, where they will face AS Maniema Union on Sunday in their historic opening Group B match of the CAF Confederation Cup at the iconic Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecote.

This season marks Azam’s first-ever appearance in the group stages of a continental competition, a major milestone for the Chamazi-based side.  Drawn in a challenging group that includes Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club, Congolese contenders AS Maniema Union, and Kenyan debutants Nairobi United, Azam know they must defy the odds to progress to the knockout phase.

 Head coach Florent Ibenge (pictured), who returns to familiar territory in DR Congo where he previously enjoyed great success with AS Vita Club, expressed confidence tempered with realism as his side embarks on the next phase of their continental adventure.

 “We start a new moment of this tournament. We are going to play a mini-championship, a mini-league, with six games,” Ibenge said before the team’s departure. “I think we are four teams in this competition, and everybody wants to be first or second. I know we are not favorites, but we are going to play to take our chances.”

 Azam open their campaign against AS Maniema, a rapidly rising force in Congolese football who enter the Confederation Cup group stages for the first time but competed in the CAF Champions League pools last season. 

 Their experience at this level, combined with home support in Kinshasa, makes them one of the group favourites alongside Wydad.

Ibenge acknowledged this reality but was quick to insist that Azam will not travel to Kinshasa simply to defend.

“We know we are not favorites, because Maniema is one of the two favorites with Wydad Athletic Club. We are third in the group, but it's a game. And we are going to give everything,” he stated.

“We are going to enjoy this game, and we expect to have good results. There are three results in football, but we are going to Kinshasa with the idea to bring three points. I play all the games in order to win, to take points. I want my players to have this mentality. If you lose, no problem, but you have to go to the pitch with this mentality.”

Maniema qualified for the group stage after edging Eswatini's Royal Leopard 2-2 on aggregate before winning on penalties. 

Nairobi United, meanwhile, enter the tournament as the surprising debutants from Kenya, having stunned Étoile Sportive du Sahel 7-6 on penalties in the last round. 

Wydad, a club rich in continental pedigree with three CAF Champions League titles, are yet to win the Confederation Cup and will be aiming for a strong statement in this campaign.

Azam will hold their final training session in Kinshasa on Saturday before Sunday’s pivotal encounter that may shape the course of their debut continental adventure.