Rejuvenated Kumasi Asante Kotoko go into Sunday’s one-sixteenth CAF Champions League return leg with unsung Mouloudia Club d'El Eulma in Kumasi with a trumpcard vis-a-vis a haunting ghost to exorcise and secure their money zone dream..
Exactly two years ago, Kotoko found themselves in a similar situation against another unknown Algeria quantity in JSM Bejaia but fluffed a good chance to advance to the next stage of the CAF Champions League.
In what turned out to be an unforgettable experience, Kotoko had raised the hopes of the porcupine army with an impressive goalless draw away and were expected to seal qualification at their Baba Yara fortress in the second leg. But that was not to be as Mohamed Derrag’s second half equaliser became the dagger that which ended another African dream for Kotoko that year.
Coincidentally, that painful script was enacted on the first Sunday of April (April 7) similar to this weekend’s drama which takes place on April 5. The only siginificant difference is the recent appointment of Coach David in place of the then coach, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, as well as some changes in the playing body.
That certainly would be the thin thread on which Kotoko’s hopes would be hanging as they approach the crucial game with three straight wins by Duncan since that impressive first leg draw against the Algerians.
The Duncan revolution began in a whirlwind fashion leading to a 3-1 thrashing of Bechem United away, followed by a 4-0 walloping of Paga Crocodiles in an MTN FA Cup duel last week and a difficult 1-0 league win over Liberty Professionals in Kumasi last Sunday.
But that might not be enough to guarantee the Ghanaians qualification on Sunday, considering the threat posed by MC El Eulma at home in the first leg. While Kotoko’s arrowhead Ahmed Toure came close to scoring a couple of times in that game, it took goalkeeper Eric ofori Antwi’s heroics on the day to save Kotoko from defeat.
This suggests that Coach Duncan will be expecting more from his boys this time around, especially after his side was exposed by Liberty Professionals despite winning by a slim margin.
In toure, Jordan Opoku, Michael Akuffo, Eric Ofori Antwi, Abeiku Ainooson, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi, Richard Mpong, Dauda Mohammed, Eric Donkor, Amos Frimpong and Emmanuel Asante, Coach Duncan has battle-tested warriors who can rise to the ocaasion this time around.
While Kotoko seek to progress in the Champions League, their rivals Accra Hearts of Oak will also be defending their 2-1 first leg lead against Senegalese side Olympique d’Ngor in a tricky CAF Confederation Cup second leg tie at the Stade Carolina Faye on Sunday.
A 30-man contingent of players and officials of Hearts are expected to leave for Senegal tomorrow for the big game.
With an away goal in their opponents’ kitty, Coach Herbert Addo and his boys seem to face a tall order as the Senegalese proved how dangerous they could be at home after snatching the lead in Accra before the Phobians could react.
Even more disturbing for the Phobian fraternity was the manner in which they lost 1-2 to Inter Allies in a Premier league clash at Tema last Sunday.
In spite of that, Hearts are fully confident of using their rich experience in the continental terrain to advance as they hope for the timely return of Burkinabe international, Abdoulaye Soulama, to solve their goalkeeping problem.
