Shooting Stars head coach Salisu Yusuf believes his side could have secured a much bigger first-leg advantage after defeating Tunisian giants CS Sfaxien 1-0 in their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary-round tie in Abeokuta on Saturday.

The Oluyole Warriors secured a narrow victory on their return to continental football after 27 years, but Yusuf felt the scoreline did not reflect the chances created by his players.

According to the experienced coach, Shooting Stars could have finished the encounter with a three- or four-goal advantage had they been more clinical in front of goal.

“The game was tactical. They tried to play long balls. We tried to score more goals to no avail,” Yusuf said after the match.

“The game was supposed to have finished three to four-nil.”

Despite the frustration over missed chances, Yusuf praised his players for producing a coordinated performance, particularly during the first half.

Shooting Stars created several opportunities before and after taking the lead, but CS Sfaxien’s defensive resilience prevented the hosts from extending their advantage.

“We played a very coordinated game in the first half. The pressure was more in the second half. We created more goal-scoring opportunities in the first half than the second,” the coach explained.

The result gives Shooting Stars a slender advantage heading into the second leg in Tunisia, but Yusuf knows the Nigerian side cannot afford to approach the return fixture with a defensive mentality.

Instead, he insists his players must travel with confidence and a positive mindset.

“We are not playing the same way we played here in Tunisia. It is all about the mindset,” he said.

Yusuf also stressed the importance of defending the first-leg advantage as the team prepares for what promises to be a difficult encounter away from home.

“We need to defend the win to give the team confidence,” he added.

The Shooting Stars coach believes the team’s preparation will improve as the season progresses, noting that the encounter against CS Sfaxien was only their second competitive match of the campaign.

“This is the second match of the season. The way we train now is not the way they trained before,” Yusuf said.

He expressed confidence that a tactically disciplined performance could see the Nigerian side secure a favourable result in Tunisia.

Yusuf also identified mentality as a crucial factor when Nigerian clubs face North African opposition.

“In the second leg, we are approaching it with a positive attitude to be able to get the results. If the players can tactically play according to instructions, we will get a good result there,” he stated.

“Playing North Africans is all about mindset. As far as we can create more goal-scoring opportunities, I believe we can get a good result,” he said.

For Shooting Stars, the occasion was also significant because it marked their return to continental football after a 27-year absence.

Yusuf acknowledged the role played by the supporters, whose presence in Abeokuta provided an additional lift for the players.

The coach believes the psychological preparation of the players will be just as important as tactical preparation ahead of the return fixture.

“27 years back on the continent was a very long time. We appreciate the supporters and everyone that came out. It gave the boys courage to play this game,” he said.

“It depends on how one builds the team psychologically. We have played teams that have more pedigree than this and have won. I believe we can get a good result in Tunisia,” Yusuf added.

Shooting Stars captain Daniel Falke also expressed confidence that the team can complete the job away from home.

“We are very happy with the win. I believe we are going to Tunisia to fight and get a good result,” Falke said.

The 1-0 victory means Shooting Stars will travel to Tunisia with a narrow lead, but CS Sfaxien will have the advantage of home support in the second leg.

The challenge is now for Yusuf's side is to combine the confidence gained from their continental comeback with the discipline required to protect their advantage.

After 27 years away from Africa, Shooting Stars have made a winning return and they now need one more strong performance to keep their continental journey alive.