Diambars coach Assane Faye stresses CAF preparation

Diambars will begin its CAF Confederation Cup campaign with a young squad and the added responsibility of representing Senegal. Coach Assane Faye says the team is preparing carefully for a competition he considers different from domestic football, as the Saly club visits ES Zarzis in the first preliminary round.

The first leg is scheduled for Friday, September 4, at 14:30 in Tunisia. Zarzis is listed 13th in the 2026 Tunisian Ligue 1 standings, with its record shown as zero points from zero matches. Its recent sequence, however, includes four victories and one defeat: wins over CS Sfaxien, Club Athlétique Bizertin twice and ES Metlaoui, followed by a 1-0 loss to ES Tunis.

Faye views Zarzis as a strong and difficult opponent. Diambars have reviewed sequences and match highlights from the Tunisian side while adjusting their preparation to the demands of continental football. The coach also acknowledged the weight of the occasion for a group made largely of players developed at the club’s academy.

Diambars will host Zarzis in the return leg on September 12. The Senegalese side’s immediate task is to manage the away fixture before deciding the tie at home, while maintaining the standards Faye believes are required to represent the country properly.