Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC were handed a 3-0 hammering by reigning Cup champions FC Ifeanyiubah in their 2017 quarter-final first leg clash in Nnewi on Wednesday.
Godwin Obaje scored one goal in either half as he inspired the Anambra Warriors to an emphatic win which makes them favourites to progress to the semi-finals ahead of the return leg on Saturday.
ABS coach Henry Makinwa however believes his team will try to overturn the 3-0 deficit in the return leg billed for the Kwara State Sports Complex, Ilorin.
“We’re planning to beat them 4-0, that is mathematically to win which I believe is possible,” Makinwa told ACLSports.
“In Ilorin, we will beat them. I don’t know how many but we’re planning to make it 4-0 because it is another ball game in Ilorin and I promise them total football.”
ABS indeed have themselves to blame for Wednesday’s heavy loss after they missed a number of good scoring chances in their good start to the game, a development that saddens Makinwa.
“We had about four to five chances in the first half begging to be connected and at times I don’t know why we keep missing those kind of chances. I don’t know Why?” lamented the former Tianjin TEDA star.
“We do finishing every day, thirty minutes after training and we come in here and you can’t do it. Thirty minutes we were dominating but they beat us with their experience.”
Makinwa also disclosed that winger Adesina Gata could be his team’s joker the former Kwara United star missed Wednesday’s game due to illness.
“We have (Adesina) Gata home and one other player that we didn’t bring because they were a bit sick. So while (they are) there, we hope to improve in the goal scoring.”