Nations FC Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Boakye Ansah says the club is not intimidated by their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary-round draw against Malian side FC Diarra.

The Ghanaian FA Cup champions have been drawn against FC Diarra in the opening round of the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup, with the first leg scheduled to take place in Bamako in September.

Nations FC secured their place in Africa after winning the MTN FA Cup last season, despite suffering relegation from the Ghana Premier League.

FC Diarra, meanwhile, are an emerging force in Malian football. The Bamako-based club finished fourth in the Malian Première Division and reached the final of the Coupe du Mali, where they lost to league champions Djoliba, who subsequently secured Mali’s CAF Champions League slot.

Despite facing an opponent with limited continental experience, Kennedy Boakye Ansah believes Nations FC can make a strong impression on their African debut.

Speaking to Luv FM, he said the club was looking forward to the challenge and had already conducted background checks on their 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,” he said.

The Nations FC CEO acknowledged the difficulties that contributed to the club’s relegation but insisted their continental campaign presents an opportunity to demonstrate their progress.

“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.”

Ansah revealed that he had researched FC Diarra and was familiar with conditions in Bamako, having visited the Malian capital on two previous occasions.

“I’ve done my own background checks on FC Diarra, and they came out of an academy. They play at Stade Mamadou Conaté in Bamako. I have personally been to Bamako on two occasions, so I know how things work out there.”

He stressed that Nations FC would travel to Mali with confidence and a determination to compete on their continental debut.

“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,” he stated.

Should Nations FC overcome FC Diarra, they will face the winner of the preliminary-round tie between Niger’s AS Zam and Burkina Faso’s ASKO de Kara in the second preliminary round.

For now, however, Ansah insists the club’s attention remains firmly on their first assignment in Mali.

“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,” Kennedy added.