Zito reflects on Dreams FC's journey following semi-final exit
Published:
Dreams FC coach Abdul Karim Zito is confident his side will return to the continental stage more experienced after the debutants exited the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
Zito offered his reflections following his side's 3-0 defeat to Zamalek in Kumasi on Sunday that resulted in their their exit at the semi-final stage.
The defeat marked the end of the Ghanaian side's fairytale run in the competition, as Zamalek's clinical performance secured their place in the final.
After a goalless first leg in Cairo, Zamalek's Hamza Mathlouthi opened the scoring early in the second leg, followed by goals from Samson Akinyoola and Mustafa Shalaby.
Despite their exit from the competition, Dreams FC are proud of their achievements, having defeated Mali heavyweights Stade Malien en route to the semifinals.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Zito acknowledged the shortcomings in his team's performance, stating, "We lacked creating opportunities, then they were able to score goals and scored due to a lack of our concentration."
Despite the disappointment of the defeat, Zito expressed pride in his players, saying, "Today I am proud of our players and I cannot blame them because we know what we were able to achieve."
Looking ahead, Zito emphasized the importance of learning from the experience, remarking, "We must be calm in matches and manage some things in a certain way. We must learn some lessons from the match as we build for the future, and it is important to suffer in order to get what you want."
For Zamalek, the victory sees them progress to yet another continental final, highlighting their status as one of Africa's top clubs while Dreams look to bounce back and build for the future.
