CAF Champions League: Asante Kotoko hold Nouadhibou

Kumasi Asante Kotoko earned a favourable 1-1 first-leg result away from home against Mauritania side, Nouadhibou, in the CAF Champions League preliminary round yesterday.

Kotoko took the lead in the fifth minute through Osman Ibrahim having latched onto a pass from Emmanuel Gyamfi on the edge of the penalty box.

The hosts came close to getting an immediate equaliser in the seventh minute but Kwame Baah came up with a fine save to deny Nouadhibou.

However, Nouadhibou restored parity in the 21st minute through a spot kick after a Yusif Mubarik’s handball in the box.

Having equalised, Nouadhibou pressed for the lead but a determined Kotoko defence were alert to hold on to the end of the first half.

After recess, Coach Maxwell Konadu introduced new signing Muniru Sulley and Evans Adomako to replace Osman Ibrahim and Emmanuel Keyekeh after both had picked up injuries in the first half.

On the 56th minute, substitute Adomako put a cross into the Nouadhibou penalty box but Emmanuel Gyamfi headed it straight to the goalkeeper.
In what proved to be a tough half, both sides failed to convert the chances that came their way to end the game on a stalemate.

The Porcupine Warriors will hope to eliminate the Mauritania champions in the reverse fixture in a week's time at the Accra Stadium with a 1-1 aggregate advantage.

Below is Kotoko’s line up to face FC Nouadhibou
 
Kwame Baah (GK)
Christopher Nettey
Imoro Ibrahim
Abdul Ganiyu
Yusif Mubarik
Kwame Adom Frimpong
Emmanuel Gyamfi
Emmanuel Keyekeh
Godfred Asiamah
Kwame Opoku
Ibrahim Osman
 
Substitutes
 
Razak Abalora
Ibrahim Danlad
Andrews Appau
Emmanuel Sarkodie
Sulley Muniru
Emmanuel Sarkodie
Evans Adomako
William Opoku
Patrick Asmah