KFFA and Lidjabato met in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League on Friday evening. The match finished level after both sides struck at the death. Two goals arrived in the ninetieth minute to produce a draw. It was not the result either camp would have predicted from the start of the fixture.
What happened in those final seconds could be called a dramatic finish, though the build-up remained quiet. KFFA had been through a mixed run recently, losing twice to Royal Leopards in 2022 and drawing with Kabwe Warriors. Lidjabato looked sharper on paper, having beaten Mzamane 8-0 and taken four wins from five in the current campaign.
And here's the thing about matches like this — the late goals often come from tired legs rather than tactical adjustments. By then, both sets of players were running on instinct. The home side had shown fragments of promise against Litaba in earlier rounds, while the visitors had demonstrated the capacity to dominate weaker opposition.
The statistics tell a straightforward story. Two goals, both scored when the clock hit ninety. No cards, no substitutions to speak of. The match was decided in the closing moments rather than through sustained pressure. It left both managers with questions about concentration rather than formation.
For KFFA, this result keeps their continental hopes alive for another week. Lidjabato will take something from the point but may feel the result should have been clearer. The preliminary round is brutal, and neither side can afford to underestimate the next fixture.