2024/25 Caf CL: Nurudeen Amadu picks inspiration from Medeama, Dreams participation ahead of Victoria United hurdle

FC Samartex 1996 Head coach, Nurudeen Amadu spoke to 3Sports ahead of the club’s 2024/25 Caf Champions League qualifier against Victoria United.

The Timber Giants will compete in their maiden continental campaign after winning the Ghana Premier League last season.

Samartex’s first and second leg matches against Victoria United are scheduled to take place between August 16 and 25, 2024.

Nurudeen Amadu’s side will travel to Cameroon for the first leg before returning home for the second leg at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The experienced coach is targeting a big win in the first leg.

“I think that the video analyst is working around the clock. We need to sit down and watch their video clips, to understand their defensive structure, their midfield structure, and their attacking structure.

“Then we also need to map out a strategy, as we are going away, so that we can get a good result there and then make the return leg a mere formality.”

The gaffer also picks immense inspiration from the campaigns of Medeama and Dreams FC last season.

Both sides qualified to the group stages of the tourney and Dreams went further to play in the semifinals of the Confederation Cup, losing to Zamalek.

“We are motivated by last season’s performance of Medeama and Dreams FC and as first timers, our target is the group stage.

“The boys have been well-focused for this pre-season and we are getting them ready for the campaign ahead.”

Samartex who lost pivotal players Emmanuel Keyekeh and Seidu Dauda Yussif to the Rwandan League have signed Lord Hillary Adabo, Alhassan Mankuyeli and Baba Kushibo to beef up their setup.

Skyy FC midfielder Akwasi Sarpong has also made the switch from the Division One League to the GPL club.