Asante Kotoko poised to overturn Caf Champions League fortune against Al Hilal in Sudan
The Ghana Premier League giants have grew confidence to crush out Al Hilal in Caf Champions League as preparations for second leg tie in Omdurman to begin today Wednesday 30th December.
Kotoko saw Al Hilal whipped them 1-0 in Accra last week Wednesday despite the Ghanaian side playing some decent football in the game’s second half.
They turned focus to the Ghana Premier League and in a outstanding clash with Medeama where the Kumasi based side were tipped to lose away, they nearly run away from Tarkwa with a slim victory only that Medeama drew level from a stoppage time penalty.
Kotoko struck twice in the second half which Kwame Opoku’s first goal from acrobatic was ruled offside but the forward calmly connected Emmanuel Gyamfi’s lofted pass. Former Asante Kotoko player Abass Mohammed struck roof of the next from the 6-yards to send the game 1-1 after 90’ minutes.
Confidence and hope to crush out Al Hilal begun from Kotoko’s results against Medeama where fans who watched the game from outside the Akoon Park in Tarkwa cheered Kotoko to replicate same performance in Sudan.
Interim boss Johnson Smith was the next, during his post-match interview, gave words of hope and warned Hilal to be watchful as his side travel to overturn the first leg results in Al Hilal Stadium early next year.
“Yes, really [We can overturn the first leg results] because Al Hilal came here and they scored us one. You saw how the goal came. The same thing could happen there (in Omdurman) because we are all playing 11 v 11. So it may happen,” Coach Johnson Smith said in a post-match interview after the draw against Medeama SC on Sunday.
Johnson Smith’s confidence was followed by a massive training sessions that begin today Wednesday afternoon after Kotoko a day (Tuesday) off. The entire team are expected to resume training at the Adako Jachie Complex, with no injury worries, to begin preparations for the second leg game against Hilal.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Premier League side are to play away against Ebusua Dwarfs at the Cape Sports Stadium on 3rd January as Ghana top flight league returns from the Christmas break before they head to face Al Hilal two days later for their continental showpiece.
However, their Ghana Premier League game could be postponed, though no official announcement as it stands now, in a bid to ease traveling arrangement challenges. If nothing changes, Kotoko will leave Ghana for Sudan Monday 3rd next Year- the day they play against the Cape Coast based club.
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