Kwara United head coach, Tunde Sanni, has expressed confidence that Asante Kotoko will struggle in the return leg of their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round clash.
The Nigerian side suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to the Porcupine Warriors in the first leg on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium.
However, Sanni believes the three away goals could prove crucial in their bid for qualification.
“It was not like us to concede that many, but I must give credit to the boys for fighting back and scoring three times away from home. Those goals are very important for us going into the second leg,” he said.
Looking ahead to the reverse fixture, the coach warned that Kotoko will find it difficult to overcome Kwara United in Abeokuta, where the team enjoys a strong home record.
“Kotoko cannot stop us here. We are a difficult team to beat in Abeokuta, and with our fans behind us, we will show our true strength,” he declared.
Sanni admitted that some key players underperformed in Accra but expressed confidence they would rise to the occasion in front of their home supporters.
“We had a few players who were not fully sharp in Accra, but back at home, I am sure they will step up. We will also tighten up defensively and make sure we don’t give Kotoko easy chances,” he added.
He further stressed the importance of discipline, efficiency, and fan support in Sunday’s crucial tie.
“This is the kind of match that defines a team’s character. We respect Kotoko, but we believe in ourselves. If we play with discipline and take our chances, we will go through. Our supporters should come out in numbers. Their energy will push us to get the result we need,” Sanni said.
The second leg is scheduled for Sunday, September 28, at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, with kick-off at 15:00 GMT.
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