CAF Confederation Cup prelims: I am not a magician - Nations FC coach Zdravko Logarušić after elimination

Nations FC head coach Zdravko Logarušić says he is "not a magician" after his side's debut CAF Confederation Cup campaign ended at the preliminary stage.

The Ghana FA Cup holders were eliminated following a 1-1 draw against Mali's FC Diarra in the second leg of their tie at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Having suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Bamako, Nations FC bowed out of the competition 2-1 on aggregate, bringing their maiden continental adventure to an early conclusion.

Speaking after the match, Logarušić pointed to major changes within his squad and the unavailability of key signings as factors behind the team's struggles.

"I am not a magician, I am just a coach," the Croatian said.

"A lot of players left the club and a lot of players came. Our five top signings could not play the game.

"Korsah had to play as a central defender and we had to make other changes. We are a bit disorganised."

The result extends a difficult period for the Abrankese-based club, who were relegated from the Ghana Premier League at the end of the 2025/26 season despite lifting the MTN FA Cup.

With their continental campaign now over, Nations FC will shift their focus to life in the Division One League, where Logarušić and his players will be aiming to secure an immediate return to Ghana's top flight.