CAF Confederation Cup: Nations FC can overturn FC Diarra deficit despite pitch challenge, says club CEO Kennedy Ansah-Boakye

Nations FC Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Ansah-Boakye believes his side can overturn their CAF Confederation Cup deficit against FC Diarra, despite admitting a slow start and difficult pitch conditions contributed to their first-leg defeat.

The MTN FA Cup holders fell to a 1-0 loss against the Malian side in the first leg of the preliminary round at Stade Mamadou Konaté in Bamako, leaving them with work to do ahead of Sunday's return leg in Accra.

Ansah-Boakye acknowledged that Nations FC struggled in the opening stages but insisted the team's cautious approach was deliberate.

"The match was a tale of two halves. We didn't start well, but we needed to start slowly," he told Asempa FM.

The Nations FC chief also pointed to the condition of the artificial surface, saying it had been watered twice before kick-off, which made an already hot pitch even more difficult to play on.

"The pitch was watered about 45 minutes before the game and 15 minutes before kick-off as well," he said. "There is heat there, and Astro Turf, when it's not watered, the surface is hot, and when water is added, it is heated more.

"But I wouldn't use that as an excuse; it is all part of the game."

While refusing to blame the defeat on the playing surface, Ansah-Boakye argued that pitch preparation can have a significant influence on matches.

"People don't know this, but match outcomes are not only determined on the pitch," he said. "The groundsman also plays a key role in match outcomes."

Despite the setback, he believes Nations FC created enough opportunities to have taken a different result from Bamako.

"We created a lot of chances, especially two goal-scoring chances that, if taken, would have changed the nature of the game."

He is also confident head coach Zdravko Logarušić will use the lessons from the first leg to improve the team's performance.

"I believe Coach Zdravko will also have had a fair idea of FC Diarra's weaknesses and also corrected the weaknesses shown by the team."

Nations FC will attempt to overturn the one-goal deficit when they host FC Diarra at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 13 September, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 GMT.