Ben Youssef Leans On Continental Experience Ahead Of Durban City’s CAF Debut
Durban City coach Khalil Ben Youssef—known for his stern, stoic demeanor in front of the media—says he will rely heavily on his extensive CAF Confederation Cup experience when the Durban side takes the field for their continental debut on Sunday.
Appointed during the off-season, the 37-year-old will guide Durban City into their CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round tie against Burundian Cup champions Rukinzo FC at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
While this marks Ben Youssef’s first stint as a head coach, he boasts significant continental pedigree. He previously served as an assistant coach in the Confederation Cup with Club Africain, AS FAR Rabat, Young Africans, and most recently Kaizer Chiefs.
During the 2022/23 campaign, Ben Youssef served as Nasreddine Nabi’s assistant at Young Africans, helping the Tanzanian giants defeat South Africa’s Marumo Gallants in the semi-finals before narrowly losing to USM Alger in a two-legged final. Last season at Kaizer Chiefs, where he worked alongside co-coach Cédric Kaze, Amakhosi suffered a frustrating group-stage exit despite leading their group heading into the final matchday.
“I have experience in this competition from my time with Club Africain, FAR Rabat, and Young Africans, where we reached the final,” Ben Youssef said.
“It is not new to me. But I am not playing—the players are the ones who have to perform. Our job as the technical staff is to give them confidence and ensure they understand how to navigate and succeed in this competition.”
Heading into the first leg on home soil, Ben Youssef outlined his tactical priorities for the squad.
“The ideal result is to win the game without conceding a goal,” he emphasized. “That is vital so we carry an advantage into the away leg. On Sunday, our first target is to keep a clean sheet, be defensively solid, and stay fully focused.”
The Tunisian tactician also highlighted the team’s immediate area for improvement following recent domestic displays.
“Our main challenge has been converting chances into goals in recent matches,” he admitted. “The team is performing very well, but we haven’t been clinical enough. On Sunday, we must score—and not just once—to make our trip to Burundi for the second leg much more manageable.”
Should Durban City overcome Rukinzo FC over two legs, they will join Kaizer Chiefs in the second preliminary round, with Amakhosi having received a first-round bye.
Algeria’s USM Alger remain the reigning champions after defeating Egypt’s Zamalek in last season’s final.
