The Porcupines left Sudan with their first loss of the CAF confederations cup group stage. Asante Kotoko ‘en route’ to this prestigious continental jamboree surpassed 2 challenges in Kariobangi Shaks and Coton Sports of Garoua. The report card of the preliminaries was somewhat impressive, scoring 7 and letting in 4.
However, Asante was drawn in a tough group consisting of Zambian twin-rivals; Zesco, and Nkana, then Al Hilal of Sudan.
As it stands, Asante’s next game already has feel of a must win match. The game is literally the first coming up against the first from the bottom. Accreditations are currently ongoing, and the Ghanaian outfit would look to impress on home soil after narrowly missing out on the chance of taking a point in Sudan. Kotoko would face the Zesco United who currently stand first courtesy their 2-0 win over country rivals; Nkana. The game would take place on February 13, 2019.
One of the reasons why the game has already been tagged a must win is due to the first game Asante had.
Al Hilal welcomed Asante Kotoko on the 3 of February, 2019. Al Hilal took advantage of the loss of concentration on the part of the Kotoko defender’s, to get a vital 40 minute goal. That goal could be worth millions of dollars transformed into money, as it puts Al Hilal second on the log right after Zesco United. The goal scorer, (Hamid Waleed’s) goal decided proceedings, as coach C.K Akonnoh pushed more bodies forward to get an equalizer, but Al Hilal put up a solid defensive performance as the defender’s were ready to go into tackles and put their bodies on the line.
Captain Amos Frimpong told local media after the game that;”the goal we conceded against Al Hilal was preventable”. A return leg for this fixture is slatted for March 10, 2019, certainly when some group members would already know their stands.
Asante Kotoko would be relishing their home games giving the fact that they have made it a fortress; have not lost there since 2015.
Giovanni Wanneh.
