Nations FC head coach Zdravko Logarušić is confident his side can overturn their 1-0 deficit against FC Diarra in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round.
The MTN FA Cup holders lost the first leg at the Stade Mamadou Konaté in Bamako and must win in Accra to keep their maiden Confederation Cup campaign alive.
Nations FC host the Malian side at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, September 13.
Logarušić believes inexperience contributed to the first-leg defeat, with several players travelling outside Ghana for the first time.
“70-80% of our players travelled outside the country for the first time. It was the first time they had a passport and travelled on an airplane. All of those things, plus the pressure, affected us a bit,” he said.
The Croatian coach says the experience has helped the players settle and is confident they will perform better in the return leg.
“Now I think when we came home, they realised it’s nothing special and we can handle it. I’m very positive about the Sunday game,” he added.
Logarušić, who took charge before the start of the season, says his ambition is to take Nations FC into the group stage.
“I didn’t come here to play First Division, Second Division or something. I came here for a challenge to play Africa. And I know what Ghana is full of talent,” he said.
“What I want is to represent Ghanaian football properly. I’m very confident we’re going to pass even the first step and even the second step. For sure, we are here to reach the group stage,” he concluded.
