Aduana Confident of Confed Cup Progress — Assures Akuoku, Sasraku in China

The skipper of Aduana Stars, Emmanuel Akuoku, and striker Derrick Sasraku say they have picked valuable lessons from their side’s defeat to ASEC Mimosas in the opening group match of the Total CAF Confederation Cup campaign and hope to make amends and progress in the group stage of the competition.

The Ghana champions got their group campaign off to a disappointing start, following their 0-1 away loss to the Ivorian giants in Abidjan last Sunday.

Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Bechem United forward, Ahmed Toure, scored the only goal in the 39th minute to deflate the Ghanaians in the Group A fixture played at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny.

However, in separate interviews with the Graphic Sports yesterday, Akuoku and Sasraku noted that they had picked some positives from the encounter and were aiming to build upon it and bounce back in subsequent matches.

“We never anticipated a defeat to ASEC because we played well, especially in the second half but luck was not on our side last Sunday. We have learnt the lessons so we will work on it for the rest of the games,” said Sasraku, who came on for Yahaya Mohammed in the 61st minute.

For his part, skipper Akuoku said: “It is just unfortunate that we could not score a goal last Sunday. We are calm and we hope that our fans will also do same because all hope is not lost. We still have confidence that we shall qualify from the group.”

Aduana, who returned home last Monday, are hopeful of recovering in time to get their Group A campaign back on track as they host Morocco’s Raja Casablanca on May 16 and again host Congo’s AS Vita Club on July 18.

The other group matches will be away to AS Vita Club on July 29, home to ASEC on August 19 and then travel to Morocco for the second leg against Raja Casablanca on August 29.

Meanwhile, Akuoku and his teammates resumed training yesterday as they prepare to honour one of their seven outstanding league fixtures against Liberty Professionals tomorrow at the Nana Agyeman Badu Park, Dormaa-Ahenkro.

Source: Graphic Sports