Nations FC’s historic first appearance in African club football came to an end on Sunday after a 1-1 draw with FC Diarra of Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium was not enough to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Bamako, with the Malian side advancing 2-1 on aggregate.
The result brought the curtain down on a campaign that carried significant symbolic weight for the Abrankese-based club, who earned their place in the competition by lifting the 2025/26 MTN FA Cup despite relegation from the Ghana Premier League. Needing victory by at least two clear goals to progress to the second preliminary round without recourse to extra time, Nations FC were instead pegged back to a share of the spoils on home soil, leaving FC Diarra to advance on the strength of their first-leg goal in the Malian capital.
Speaking after the final whistle, head coach Zdravko Logarušić was candid about the disruption within his squad in the build-up to the tie, pointing to a turbulent transfer window and a wave of late unavailability among his most significant new recruits.
In the time we are seeing problems, and where we have to work. I’m not a magician, I’m just a coach,” the Croatian tactician said. “In a very short time, lots of players left the club, lots of players came. But our five players, who should be our top signings, they couldn’t play this game.”
The absences forced Logarušić into a reshuffle that pulled several players out of their natural positions, with Dennis Korsah among those asked to fill in at centre-back despite being a recognised left-back by trade.
Korsah is the left fullback he must play centre defender. Then this one must play there, there, there. We are a bit disorganised, but anyway,” Logarušić explained.
Ingredients what we have on the table, we have to make a nice cake with the cream. Today, no cream. We made the cake, but no cream. Let’s hope next time we’re going to make it with the cream.” Zdravko Logarušić, Nations FC Head Coach
Despite the disappointment, Sunday’s exit does not erase the significance of the run that brought Nations FC to CAF competition for the first time in the club’s history. Their triumph in the MTN FA Cup secured on penalties against Dreams FC after a 1-1 draw made them only the second relegated side in over three decades to lift the trophy, and gave the Abrankese club a place among Ghana’s representatives on the African stage this season.