Nations FC Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Ansah-Boakye is confident the Ghanaian side can overturn their 1-0 first-leg deficit against FC Diarra and advance in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The MTN FA Cup champions suffered a narrow defeat to the Malian club at the Stade Mamadou Konaté in Bamako, leaving them needing a victory in the return leg in Accra.
Ansah-Boakye believes Nations FC struggled to find their rhythm early in the match and described the encounter as one of two contrasting halves.
He also pointed to the condition of the artificial pitch, noting that the surface was watered shortly before kick-off and suggesting that the heat affected the playing conditions.
However, the Nations FC CEO refused to use the pitch as an excuse for the defeat, stressing that the team must take responsibility for the result.
Ansah-Boakye said Nations FC created several opportunities, including two clear chances that could have changed the outcome had they been converted.
He is also confident that head coach Zdravko Logarušić will use lessons from the first leg to make the necessary tactical adjustments, having identified the strengths and weaknesses of FC Diarra.
Nations FC will welcome FC Diarra to the Accra Sports Stadium for the second leg on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 pm GMT.
The Ghanaian side must win by at least two clear goals to overturn the deficit and keep their maiden CAF Confederation Cup campaign alive.
