El-Kanemi Warriors’ Coach laments lack of Grade A friendlies affecting CAF Confederation Cup performance
El-Kanemi Warriors’ head coach, Zubairu Aliyu, has expressed disappointment over the team’s inability to secure victory in their CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round tie against Dadjè FC, citing the lack of Grade A friendlies as a significant factor.
The match ended in a late draw, leaving the Warriors with much to improve upon for the second leg in Benin Republic.
Aliyu revealed that the team’s preseason preparations were severely hampered by restrictions imposed by the state governor, which prevented players and officials from leaving the state during a strike action.
This limitation meant that the team could not engage in critical preseason friendlies to identify and address weaknesses before the competition.
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“It is not good to be using a competition proper to know the weakness of your team,” Aliyu stated, expressing his frustration at having to identify weaknesses during the competition rather than in preseason friendlies.
He emphasised the importance of such games in fine-tuning the squad, which they missed out on due to the restrictions.
Looking ahead to the second leg in Benin Republic, Aliyu remains focused on correcting the mistakes made in the first match. Despite the challenges, he is determined to lead the team to a better performance and hopes to turn things around in the return fixture.
El-Kanemi Warriors managed to salvage a late draw against Dadjè FC, but the result underscored the need for better preparation. The team is now gearing up for the second leg, where they aim to overcome the hurdles and secure a place in the next round of the competition.
Aliyu’s candid remarks highlight the importance of proper preseason preparation and the impact of external factors on a team’s performance. As the Warriors prepare for their crucial match in Benin Republic, the focus will be on addressing the identified weaknesses and putting up a stronger fight to advance in the CAF Confederation Cup.
