CAF Confederation Cup campaign: Preko eyes strong start for Nsoatreman FC
Nsoatreman FC head coach, Yaw Preko, is setting his sights on a strong start to their CAF Confederation Cup journey as his side prepare to host TP Elect-Sport FC in the preliminary round first-leg clash at the Accra Sports Stadium this Sunday.
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Having taken over the reins just seven weeks ago following coach Maxwell Konadu's departure, Preko faces the challenge of leading his team past their Chadian opponents and steering them deep into Africa’s second-tier competition, despite the club's relative inexperience on the continental stage.
Nsoatreman FC have made significant strides in Ghanaian football with their MTN FA Cup triumph serving as a statement of their ambitions to extend their dominance beyond domestic borders.
Sunday’s showdown with Elect-Sport FC will be a crucial test of Coach Preko and his squad’s readiness to tackle the challenges that lie ahead in continental football.
Peparation
The Twumasikrom-based side have been rigorously preparing for their Confederation Cup campaign, including participating in the Nsenkyire Cup at Samreboi. This gave Preko and his coaching team the opportunity to gauge their squad’s readiness for both domestic and continental challenges.
Speaking to the Graphic Sports yesterday, Coach Preko stated his intent to “present a formidable team” on Sunday, aiming for a decisive victory against the seven-time Chad Premier League champions to secure a strong advantage ahead of the return leg.
Despite losing experienced midfielders Abdul Manaf Umar and Sadat Mohammed, Nsoatreman FC have made strategic signings, bringing in talents like Daniel Amoo, Adom Kwesi Yeboah, Solomon Oblitey Commey, Emmanuel Ankra, Richmond Opoku, Laar Ibrahim, and former Black Starlets captain Benjamin Tsivanyo to bolster their squad.
Preko admitted that he had limited information about their opponents, relying on a few video clips of their matches. However, he acknowledged the talent and physicality of the Chadian side and believed that Nsoatreman FC would devise the right tactics, coupled with home advantage, to secure victory on Sunday.
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The coach emphasised the importance of a commanding win in Accra, noting that the return leg will be played at a neutral venue in Cameroun. This is due to Elect-Sport FC’s home ground, the 20,000-seater Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya in N'Djamena, not meeting CAF’s standards for hosting international matches.
“The return leg will be in Cameroun, so we must secure a solid victory in the first leg. We need to finish the job here and manage the scoreline in the second leg,” said Preko.
Nsoatreman will depend on a blend of new recruits like Daniel Amoo and seasoned players such as goalkeeper Daniel Afadzwu, Stephen Aiyuo, Abdul Rahman Mohammed, along with teenage sensations Tsivanyo and Forster Apertorgo, the hero of their FA Cup final win over Bofoakwa Tano.
Though TP Elect-Sport FC have not made a significant impact in Africa, they are no strangers to continental football. Since 1991, they have competed twice in the old format of the CAF Champions League and three times in the current format, along with three appearances in the Confederation Cup, but they have never progressed beyond the first round.