Asante Kotoko defender Awudu Nafiu has expressed his displeasure over their elimination from this year’s CAF Confederation Cup but has set his eyes on having a superb campaign to pacify their disappointment.
The Porcupine Warriors were dumped out of this season’s CAF second-tier club competition following their 7-6 loss on penalties against CARA Club of Congo in the first preliminary stage – having finished both legs 1-1 on aggregate.
And as the start of the Ghana Premier League beckons, the silky guardsman is hoping to have a scintillating season to help appease for their failing on the continental stage.
“I was so hurt by the defeat but I said to myself later on that it was gone and there was nothing we could do about it. I look at the quality of players we have and the quality of players in the other teams and I’m convinced that we can win the league and get back to Africa if only we can continue to work hard and most importantly be luckier than we were in the game against CARA,” Nafiu said.
Nafiu insisted that the technical team is doing its part, educating the players on tactics, and although that will improve on their performances, their output would not yield much effort if the players and the team do not enjoy some divine luck.
“We gave our all in the CARA game but luck eluded us. We won four penalties in the first leg but managed to score only one. We played so well in the away game but conceded a goal courtesy a wicked deflection. With luck, a ball that is going out of play can hit someone’s leg to score.”
The former AshantiGold centre-back added, “We went into the penalty shootout and thrice we had the advantage and thrice it was blown away. We did our best but luck eluded us. We must be prayerful as individuals and collectively as a team”.
“We don’t have any other option but to win either the league or the FA Cup to appease the fans.”
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