CAF Confederation Cup: Zdravko Logarušić admits Nations FC still have work to do ahead of FC Diarra game

Nations FC head coach Zdravko Logarušić says the club is still undergoing significant changes as he works to identify the right players and build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts this season.

The Abrankese-based club appointed the experienced Croatian coach ahead of the 2026/27 Division One League campaign after suffering relegation from the Ghana Premier League.

Despite dropping into the second tier, Nations FC will compete in Africa after securing a place in the CAF Confederation Cup by defeating Dreams FC in the FA Cup final.

Logarušić, who previously coached Asante Kotoko, revealed that the club initially had between 40 and 50 players in camp before reducing the number as preparations intensified.

The coach said the squad currently consists of 26 players, including four goalkeepers, but indicated that further additions could still be made before the start of the campaign.

“We had so many players in the beginning, 40, 50, and last week, a few days ago, we cut some numbers. Now we are staying on 26 players, 22 players, and four keepers. Let’s see how things will go.

“Step by step, we are still expecting one or two players, and I think we are on the right track,” Logarušić told the club's media.

The Croatian tactician also acknowledged the difficulties involved in taking charge of a new team and working with players he had not previously encountered.

He stressed that he needs more time to properly assess the squad and determine the areas that require improvement.

“It’s not easy to come to work in Africa and to work with a team you’ve never met before. But step by step, I think we are adapting properly, and then let’s give ourselves a bit more time because proper observation can give us a proper idea of what we have to do later,” he added.

With Nations FC set to embark on a continental campaign in the coming weeks, Logarušić knows the process of identifying weaknesses and improving the team must be accelerated.

The coach said the CAF Confederation Cup will provide an early test of the squad's quality and readiness.

“We are hoping we are going to make proper observations to see our weaknesses, and what we can improve in a very short time because the African games [CAF Confederation Cup] are coming very soon.”

Logarušić further disclosed that the club continues to assess several players, with some only arriving at the training ground in recent days.

As a result, he believes it is too early to provide an accurate assessment of Nations FC's preparedness for the new season.

“We are checking some players. We have a few players who just came two or three days ago. We have some new players, and that means it’s very hard to give some percentage on how fit we are, how good we are, until we standardise those 50, 60, 70 players, which should be the spine of the team during the season,” he concluded.

Nations FC will begin their CAF Confederation Cup campaign against Mali's FC Diarra in the first preliminary round.

The first leg will be played in Bamako, with the return leg scheduled to take place in Ghana in September.

If Nations FC advance, they will face the winner of the second preliminary-round tie between Niger's AS Zam and Burkina Faso's ASKO de Kara.

The club will therefore have to balance its domestic campaign in the Division One League with the demands of continental football as Logarušić continues the process of building his squad.