General Manager of Kwara United, Mallam Bashir Badawiy, is confident his side will clear the Asante Kotoko hurdle in the preliminary stage of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup.
Speaking exclusively to Akoma FM, Badawiy played down the influence of home support, insisting that mentality — not the size of the crowd — is what determines success on the pitch.
“We were in Sudan with a full-capacity crowd. We also played in Berkane, Morocco, against one of the best clubs there, and we almost qualified. It’s not about the crowd; it’s about mentality. If you can’t play in front of a big crowd, it’s like you can’t dance in the market. Even if it’s 500,000 fans at the Maracanã, let the whole world see what you can do.”
In a light-hearted message to their Ghanaian opponents, the Kwara United boss urged Kotoko to take it easy, but also made it clear that his side is chasing continental glory.
“You are a big team now, so take it easy with us. But we are coming to play football, and our target is to win the cup. Our message to our fans in Ghana is to prepare to welcome the Confederation Cup trophy to Nigeria — and to join us on September 19 to cheer Kwara United to victory.”
The first leg will be played in Ghana before the return fixture in Ilorin, with both sides aiming to make a statement in their continental campaigns.
