Cotonsport co-coach Agbor Ernest Ako has issued a rallying cry to his players to show character and fight to the very end in their CAF Champions League deferred Match Day 1 fixture against Al Ahly SC.
Coton topping Pool C from the bottom have endured a struggle start to this season’s competition but to spring a surprise on Friday evening when they face the record champions at the Al Salaam stadium.
“We are happy to face a strong team like Al-Ahly. We have to show our personality. I know that the players, the staff, all the club want to fight until the end. We will play for the fans’ pleasure,” said the ex-Union Sportive trainer during the pre-match conference in Cairo.
Al Ahly are also struggling in this season’s competition. The 2022 FIFA Club World Cup semi-finalist are made to only play this game now and fetch points to add toa point earned so far.
Though Aliou Deng and his Ahly mates are winless, Gabriel Haman with whom Agbor Ernest coach Cotonsport admitted it wasn’t going to be easy during his post-match conference after last week’s home defeat to Al Hilal SC.
“It’s the real test. The kings of this competition against one team who aren’t used to playing these kind of games much, our best performance is what we expect.
“If we’re able to do it we’ll be so happy. If not then next season… well, next season I don’t know but when we are able to play we are going to come back,” Haman echoed almost the same words colleagues used in the pre-match conference.
Cotonsport have readjusted their squad to include more attacking options for Friday’s game.
A win for the Cotonites will keep the group open and make matters more interesting going into the marathon phase of the competition with three games scheduled in the next two weeks.
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