Asante Kotoko interim coach Johnson Smith has named his traveling squad for the second leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary stages game against Al Hilal in Sudan.

Emmanuel Keyekeh and Mudasiru are still out injured but Fabio Gama was included in the squad for the game. Full Squad below:

Goalkeepers: Felix Annan, Kwame Baah, and Razak Abalora

Defenders: Andrews Appau, Christopher Nettey, Samuel Frimpong, Ibrahim Imoro, Patrick Asmah, Abdul Ganiyu, Mubarik Yussif and Wahab Adams.

Midfielders: Kwame Adom Frimpong, Fabio Gama, Emmanuel Sarkodie, Latif Anabila, Muniru Sulley, Emmanuel Gyamfi and Godfred Asiamah.

Strikers: Kwame Opoku, Osman Ibrahim, Naby Keita and William Opoku Mensah.

The game is scheduled for Wednesday, 3PM Ghanaian time.

The post Asante Kotoko squad traveling to Sudan for Al Hilal clash first appeared on Sahara Football.

Executive Chairman of Asante Kotoko Dr. Kwame Kyei commented on his team’s chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup, he remains optimistic and thanked the fans for their undying love and support.

“I was very happy about the results yesterday. How can you determine that God is great?. These situations, so when all hope is lost that’s where he glorifies himself,” he told Light FM.

“I haven’t seen anything, even if we get eliminated from this stage, this won’t be a stumbling block between me and my God in ultimately praising and worshiping him to the extreme.”



“As humans, we don’t own our destiny except for God. We will be leaving here Tuesday so let’s leave everything in the hands of God. What he desires will come to past”

“I deeply from my heart want to thank the supporters. The whole of Africa I haven’t seen such support like this before so they shouldn’t be discouraged but keep supporting the club and I believe Kotoko will reach higher heights.”

Asante Kotoko will travel to Zambia on Tuesday to face Zesco United in a must-win fixture.

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Asante Kotoko blew their chance to qualify for the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup against Al-Hilal on Sunday after they struggled to draw.

Asante Kotoko will face Zesco United of Zambia in their final group game, they will need a win to qualify for the next round.

CK Akonnor was disappointed with the result against Al-Hilal on Sunday, he admitted that their inability to win the game has put them on a tight spot as they will need all three points to qualify when they face Zesco United.



“We had two matches to play and we drew this one, if we had lost it would have been a very painful one but thank God we drew in the last minute,” CK Akonnor said in his post-match conference.

“It means that going to Zambia, we have to win. Without that, we are out” he added.

The post We have to win Zesco United – Kotoko coach CK Akonnor first appeared on Sahara Football.

Asante Kotoko will face Al-Hilal on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium as the porcupines will look to maintain their fine form from the last game. CK Akonnor spoke with the media on Saturday morning and we will give you notes from the press conference.

CK Akonnor on Kotoko’s preparation and mentality towards the game:



CK Akonnor said that Sunday’s game will be very difficult because they are facing a very difficult team, he believes the game might be tougher than the encounter they had in Sudan but added that his team have prepared adequately for the match.



“We are playing an opponent that is on top of our group, we played them some weeks ago but the situation is different now because they have a new coach and they have been a lot of change in the team; they are very disciplined,” Akonnor said to the press

“But we are prepared and confident of getting a good result” he added.



On the Injury situation:

CK Akonnor revealed that he is not pleased with the injury situation at the club, he added that three players won’t be available for tomorrow’s game; Maxwell Baakoh, Richard Senanu and Emmanuel Gyamfi. He also stated that they have a fresh injury problem with one of his important players but refused to reveal the name of the player.

Approach to the game:

CK Akonnor says his team will move the ball well, he added that they will employ a free playing flow that will create opportunities for his team to score.

“We will move with the ball and create a lot of scoring opportunities for ourselves, we will try to play a free-flowing type of play,” he said.

On reports National team call-ups of Kotoko players:



CK Akonnor said that he read reports that some of his players have been called up to the National team and added that it should be a form of encouragement to the players (if reports are true).

“It is a big plus for us, we need to work more. If given the opportunity to be a part of the senior team it means you are doing something good and should serve as an encouragement, and those are not invited should be encouraged as well”



The full press conference will be on the Youtube Channel very soon

The post Kotoko vs Al-Hilal – CK Akonnor’s pre-match press conference first appeared on Sahara Football.

Sudanese side Al-Hilal have arrived  in Accra ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup game against Asante Kotoko in Kumasi.

Al-Hilal will fly to Kumasi where they will begin preparations for the game on Sunday.

Asante Kotoko were beaten in Sudan by Al-Hilal in the first group game last month and will seek to revenge the defeat on Sunday.



Hilal came without two key players Idris Mbombo (serving a two-match ban) and Samawal Merghani Noureldin Elyas (injured).

The post Al Hilal arrive to face Kotoko in CAF Confederation Cup match first appeared on Sahara Football.

CAF has appointed Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa to handle the CAF Confederation Cup game against Kotoko and Al-Hilal on Sunday in Kumasi.

The Ethiopian will be assisted by his countrymen Temesgin Samuel Atango and Mark Ssonko.

Officials for the game:

Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa

1st assistant: Temesgin Samuel Atango

2nd assistant: Mark Ssonko

The post Ethiopian officials to handle Kotoko’s CAF CC game against Al-Hilal first appeared on Sahara Football.

Asante Kotoko boss CK Akonnor has revealed that Emmanuel Gyamfi won’t be available for Kotoko’s clash with Al-Hilal on Sunday in Kumasi.

Emmanuel Gyamfi came out injured after scoring in Asante Kotoko’s 3-0 victory against Nkana FC on Sunday, the winger was replaced by Kwame Boahene.



CK Akonnor stated that the winger won’t feature in their next game against Al-Hilal, he added that he is yet to know the full extent of the injury.

The post Gyamfi not available for Al-Hilal game – CK Akonnor first appeared on Sahara Football.

Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Felix Annan stated that the team is focused on winning their remaining group games after cruising to a 3-0 victory against Nkana FC in Kumasi in their last CAF Confederation Cup game.

The porcupines will look to maintain their form in their final two group games to make sure they qualify for the quarter-finals stages of the competition. Kotoko will play Al-Hilal at home and Zesco United away in the final two group games.

Felix Annan who kept his first clean sheet of the competition on Sunday is rallying his team to win their remaining games starting from Al-Hilal on March 10th.

“We want to win the rest of our matches even though playing against ZESCO United in Zambia will be difficult”, he told Asempa FM.



“We are going into Sunday’s game against Al Hilal FC with the same mentality because we are bent on winning this weekend, he added.

Group C Standings:

The post Asante Kotoko focused on winning remaining group games – Felix Annan first appeared on Sahara Football.

Former Asante Kotoko player Frimpong Manso wants CK Akonnor to maintain the two central defenders that featured in their 3-0 victory against Nkana FC on Sunday, he believes the pair should retain their place against Al-Hilal this weekend.

Wahab Adams and Ishmail Ganiyu were solid at the back on Sunday when Asante Kotoko cruised to a 3-0 victory against Nkana FC, the duo made sure they ended the game without conceding a goal.

Frimpong Manso who is now the Head coach of Nkoranza Warriors FC believes that the introduction of Wahab Adams was crucial and should be maintained.

“I think the introduction of Wahab Adams to the defense of Kotoko was really good, He played very well, maintaining that pair of defenders could help the course of the club, he told Light FM



He also praised Daniel Darkwah who came in for suspended Amos Frimpong for his wonderful display in the game.

“Also, Daniel Darkwah did very well, his surging runs, passes, and crosses was simply brilliant. All he needs is consistency in playing more matches”.

“Kotoko played splendidly in the first half but their second half was the problem. I believe going forward with help of the coach CK Akonnor, he will improve their second half”, he added.

Asante Kotoko will host Al-Hilal this weekend as they will look to maintain their winning mentality.

The post Frimpong Manso comments on Kotoko’s defensive pair first appeared on Sahara Football.

The Tunisian Tactician who previously served as Deputy Coach to former TP Mazembe gaffer, Lamine Ndiaye became the head coach of Al Hilal in November last year and have kept Al Hilal comfortably at that top of the table in their pool of the Local League but recent results have caused his bosses to lose trust in him this Friday evening.

It is understood the club will soon announce a replacement for the gaffer in the next 48 hours as Hilal seeks to rekindle their dreams of having a good run in the 2018/2019 CAF Confederation Cup competition.

Al Hilal suffered a 2-1 CAF Confederation Cup defeat to Zambian side, Nkana 48 Hours ago and are currently in with a chance of making a claim for a qualification ticket in a 4 clubs on 3 points group after 2 matches played by all clubs, Asante Kotoko of Ghana, Nkana and Zesco United of Zambia.



 

Credit:kick442

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