Kwara United General Manager, Mallam Bashir Badawiy, says his side will approach their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary tie against Ghana’s Asante Kotoko with calm confidence, stressing that the West African showdown is not a war but a game of football.
Speaking on Akoma 87.9 FM, the Nigerian club boss reflected on the importance of improvement in this year’s campaign, noting that Kwara United are determined to better their last appearance in the competition.
“The expectation is for us to do better than the last time we played in the Confederation Cup,” he said. “We are not here to boast ; football is the same everywhere. It’s not a war; it’s not do-or-die. We will try our best to make our fans, supporters, and well-wishers happy.”
Badawiy also spoke on the cyclical nature of football dominance in Ghana, pointing to examples such as Hearts of Oak’s golden era, Kotoko’s league-winning streak, and Medeama’s recent rise, as proof that momentum can shift.
“Football is about confidence, and the game has changed,” he added. “If you recall, there was a time Hearts of Oak dominated in Ghana, then Asante Kotoko won the league back-to-back.
Later, Medeama became one of the best in Ghana before Kotoko came back again. Things change in football and so we will overcome this hurdle against Kotoko.”
Kwara United will first travel to Kumasi between September 19–21 for the opening leg at Baba Yara Sports Stadium before hosting the return leg a week later in Nigeria. The winner will advance to face Morocco’s Wydad AC in the next round.
