CAF Confederation Cup: Nations FC can overturn FC Diarra deficit - Zdravko Logarušić

Nations FC head coach Zdravko Logarušić is confident his side can overturn a one-goal deficit against FC Diarra and keep their CAF Confederation Cup campaign alive.

The MTN FA Cup holders lost the first leg 1-0 at Stade Mamadou Konaté in Bamako and must win Sunday's return leg at the Accra Sports Stadium to progress from the preliminary round.

The Croatian believes his team's lack of international experience played a significant role in the defeat, revealing that many of his players were travelling abroad for the first time.

"Seventy to 80% of our players travelled outside the country for the first time," Logarušić said.

"It was the first time they had a passport and travelled on an airplane. All of those things, plus the pressure, affected us a bit."

He says the experience has helped his players settle ahead of the decisive second leg.

"Now I think when we came home, they realised it's nothing special and we can handle it. I'm very positive about the Sunday game," he added.

Logarušić, who joined Nations FC with ambitions of competing on the continental stage, believes the Ghanaian side has what it takes to go much further in the competition.

"I didn't come here to play First Division, Second Division or something. I came here for a challenge to play Africa," he said.

"I know what Ghana is full of talent. What I want is to represent Ghanaian football properly."

The former Sudan and Zimbabwe coach is backing his side to overturn the deficit against the Malian outfit and continue their quest for a place in the group stage.

"I'm very confident we're going to pass even the first step and even the second step. For sure, we are here to reach the group stage."

Nations FC must win by at least two goals to advance automatically. A 1-0 victory would level the tie on aggregate and force a penalty shootout.

The winners will face either Niger's AS Zam or Burkina Faso's ASKO de Kara in the second preliminary round.