Asante Kotoko midfielder Umar Basiru is convinced his side will edge out Kenyan giants Kariobangi Sharks from the CAF Confederations Cup ahead of their first-leg encounter in Kenya on Saturday.
Coach Charles Kwablan Akunnor and his charges face a daunting task as they aim to excel in this season’s CAF second tier-competition.
Kariobangi Sharks will host the Porcupine Warriors on December 15 at the Kasarani stadium.
The Reds will be looking to go a step further and they must first play above themselves to ensure they won’t replicate the poor performances exhibited in the previous campaign that saw them knocked out by CARA Brazzaville.
According to Basiru, who joined Kotoko from WAFA, he believes his side will get a good result in Kenya and this will help motivate the team in the remaining matches as they seek qualification to the group stage.
"There’s a good feeling in camp right now, and we must do everything we can to bring smiles back to the faces of our fans. We must beat all the competitors to enhance our chances of going far in the competition and make our fans proud. This will be our year of wonders,” he told kickgh.com
“We need to take very opposition seriously if we can attain this goal. We don’t need to underestimate or overestimate them because the football map on the continent has changed and there are no minnows in the game. We will bounce back stronger than before.”
Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko have landed in Kenya ahead of the much-anticipated clash.