Yaya Kone: Dadje FC coach upbeat after draw with El-Kanemi Warriors in Ikenne

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Head coach of Benin Republic side, Dadje FC’s Yaya Kone was modest despite his side’s 1-1 draw with El-Kanemi Warriors in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday.

Gimba Ajiji’s last gasp goal denied the Benin Republic side the chance of returning to Cotonou with a win.

Bless Salassi had opened the scoring for the visitors at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne before the late equaliser.

While admitting that it was a good result to take home, The Ivorian coach expects a better result in the return leg in August 24, while lamenting his side’s failure to get a win in Nigeria.

“It was a good game. We prepared for this match within seven days. I came to Nigeria with exactly 15 players and three goalkeepers,” Kone told journalists after the match.

“For me, I came here to get a good result. This is a good result because I didn’t lose which is very important and we scored the first goal.

“We can prepare very well for the next match. El-Kanemi Warriors team is a good team. They played good and well. I put the tactics into play to close them especially from the wing but in the last moments of the game, my defence lost concentration enabling El-Kanemi to score.

“I don’t want to go high or press. Tactically, we played in the low block so as to block the space and counter in transition. Next week, we will prepare and the outcome will be different in Cotonou and we will work.”

El-Kanemi Warriors face a tight rope and need another score draw or win in Cotonou to be able to seal through to the next stage.