ASKO de Kara must stay calm and improve their finishing if they are to overturn a 3-2 first-leg defeat by FC Diarra and progress in the CAF Confederation Cup, the club’s general coordinator Kodjo Afiadegnigban says.
The Kondona suffered a narrow loss in Mali and will now attempt to complete the turnaround at home in the return fixture. With qualification at stake, Afiadegnigban insists the players must not allow the importance of the match to affect their approach.
“We are not going to put too much pressure on ourselves, because too much pressure could put the players in difficulty. We are trying to remain ourselves and play our game,” the ASKO de Kara official said at a news conference.
ASKO de Kara’s aim is straightforward: to win the match, regardless of how that victory is achieved.
“Our objective is that, whatever the manner, tomorrow we have to win this match,” Afiadegnigban said.
He believes the team still has every chance of reaching the next round, particularly because the second leg will be played in front of its home supporters. However, the hosts will need to make better use of the opportunities they create.
Creating chances has not been the main problem for the Kondona, according to Afiadegnigban. The priority is to convert those openings more efficiently rather than rush in search of an early goal.
“We have to avoid hurrying in search of the goal and take advantage of the chances we manage to create,” he said.
ASKO de Kara will also be without Adjessi, who was sent off during the first meeting in Mali. The absence leaves the side with a selection issue to address for the decisive encounter.
Afiadegnigban remains confident that the squad is prepared to cope. He said several alternatives had been worked on during training to compensate for Adjessi’s suspension and ensure the team can maintain its plan in the return match.