Dreams FC eye Confed Cup semis in second leg vs Stade Malien

Dreams FC are set to clash with Stade Malien at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday in the eagerly anticipated second leg of the CAF Confederations Cup quarterfinals.

The first leg in Bamako, saw Dreams beat the 2009 champions 2-1 courtesy of a brace from experienced forward John Antwi. The 31-year-old is the joint leading scorer along with Abdul Aziz Issah with four goals in this season’s campaign.

🇬🇭 Dreams FC become the first Ghana Premier League side to win a knockout tie in the CAF Confederations cup or CAF Cup since Goldfields (now AshGold) in 2001.

They take a 2-1 lead to the 2nd leg to be played in Ghana. pic.twitter.com/5ymxFeGrWR

— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) March 31, 2024

The first-leg triumph means, should the home side lose by 1-0, they will still qualify for the next round. However, the Still Believe Boys are gunning for victory to continue their fairytale run and qualify for the CAF Confederations Cup semifinals for the first time in the club’s history.

🇬🇭 John Antwi has been an inspired signing by Dreams FC this season.

The veteran striker’s goalscoring has been key to Dreams’ CAF Confederation cup campaign.

Antwi has scored seven goals in the competition (including qualifiers) so far. pic.twitter.com/QnhDxewqBK

— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) April 1, 2024

In the dugout, experienced tactician Abdul Karim Zito has emphasised the importance of preparation and the support of the fans. Zito expressed gratitude for his team’s exploits on the African continent and called for continued support from the fans to boost their morale.

“We are preparing seriously for the encounter; we need the fans and depend on them to support us. I remember when we started the Confederations Cup campaign, my first objective was to see to it that two slots would come back to Ghana, and by his grace, we’ve been able to make it after twenty years we have been able to bring back the two slots, so they should continue praying for us so we do our best and raise the image of Ghana,” Abdul Karim Zito told to 3Sports.

General Manager of Dreams FC, Ameenu Shardow said the team has “exceeded all expectations” with their performances in Africa and their performances have gone a long way to inspire Ghanaians who are used to cheering the likes of Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak on the African stage.

As Dreams FC prepare to take on Stade Malien, they carry the hopes and aspirations of a nation. Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, their journey in the CAF Confederations Cup has already showcased the power of perseverance and belief, proving that anything is achievable with determination and resilience.