Kennedy Boakye-Ansah
Nations FC Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Boakye-Ansah says the club is ready to embrace the challenge of its maiden African campaign after being drawn against Mali’s FC Diarra in the preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup.
The Ghanaian FA Cup champions will travel to Bamako in September for the first leg of the tie, with the return leg scheduled to take place in Ghana.
Nations FC secured their place in the continental competition after winning the MTN FA Cup last season, despite suffering relegation from the Ghana Premier League.
Their opponents, FC Diarra, are also an emerging force in Malian football. The Bamako-based side finished fourth in the Malian Premire Division and reached the final of the Coupe du Mali, where they lost to league champions Djoliba.
Speaking to Luv FM after the draw, Boakye Ansah welcomed the challenge and insisted Nations FC are not intimidated by their relatively unfamiliar opponents.
“It’s going to be a very good experience in Africa, and Nations FC is quite a young club. Though the team has been there for a very long time ever since we took over under the good leadership of Dr Kwame Kyei, we have made some gains.
“Unfortunately, there were some issues that came up, and that culminated in us getting relegated back to Division One. But just this morning, it was confirmed that we are going to play against another young team in Mali.
“I’ve done my own background checks on FC Diarra, and they came out of an academy. They play at Stade Mamadou Konat in Bamako. I have personally been to Bamako on two occasions, so I know how things work out there.
“We are going to go out there, express ourselves, and make a bold statement for ourselves as well. No, we are never scared. We just have to play very well, so we’re never shaking at all.”
Boakye Ansah also urged his team to remain focused on the immediate task rather than looking too far ahead in the competition.
Should Nations FC eliminate FC Diarra, they will face either Niger’s AS Zam or Burkina Faso’s ASKO de Kara in the second preliminary round.
“Let’s take it one game at a time. For now, the focus is on the first leg. But we will take it one game at a time,” he added.
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