Real Tamale United (RTU) head coach, Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko, says they have what it takes to compete in the absence of livewire, David Abagna.
Abagna, having joined the PremierLeague returnees from Ashgold has been a kingpin for the club in the ongoing 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season.
However, following his impressive start of the season, Abagna earned a maiden call up in Black Stars provisional squad for the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations [Afcon].
The 26-year-old is expected to make the cut for the tournament scheduled to be hosted in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6.
In the absence of the attacking midfielder, RTU suffered a 2-1 defeat to Accra Lions in matchday 10 of the Ghana Premier League at the Sogakope Park on Monday.
Despite the defeat, Tanko believes there are equally good players who are capable of filling the void created by the former AshantiGold star.
“As I said earlier, we have the men who will really stand for him,” he said during his post-match interview.
“And indeed you saw it; even though his [Abagna] absence was felt, we were able to make sure people do not realise that he wasn’t here.”
In nine league games, Abagna has netted eight times for the Tamale-based side, leapfrogging national teammate, Maxwell Nii Abbey Quaye to the league top-scorers chart.
RTU will host Dreams FC in the matchday 11 games at the Tamale Stadium on Sunday.