Angola’s Petro de Luanda coach Alexandre Santos has explained that they need to be mentally and physically strong to overcome Wydad Casablanca of Morocco on Saturday.

He said this as Petro de Luanda host Wydad in the CAF Champions League semifinal first leg match.

Ahead of the match, Santos said they would be up against one of the giants of African football.

The coach urged his players to fight every inch if they are to prevail against the visitors who favourites.

 “We have to be very strong and give everything we have and everything that is in our power. We have to do this with the conviction that ‘we are in a fight and that we are going to make sure that our strengths are greater than their strengths. We have to be at our best level,” Santos said.

He said all his players are fully focused on the battle ahead knowing they are two games away from reaching the final for the first time.

“All the players are very focused for this game and they really want to play this game. They really want to give the Petro family and ourselves, the possibility of wanting to make history again,” Santos said.

The team’s top player Gleison echoed the coach’s remarks, saying: “We have been talking a lot about the game. All players have never been to the semi-final and of course, there is anxiety, but it is that anxiety that every player has to have. Tomorrow, we will be at the highest level, to give a good answer here at home”.

Petro de Luanda eliminated Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinals whereas Wydad saw off Belouizdad.