Asante Kotoko will look to stamp their authority in the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday when they square off with Nigeria’s Kwara United in the preliminary round at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Forced away from their traditional Baba Yara Stadium, which remains under renovation, the Porcupine Warriors have turned to the capital as their temporary fortress. The club hopes the Accra crowd can rally behind them as they attempt to take charge of the tie before travelling for the return leg in Nigeria.
Head coach Karim Zito, who masterminded Kotoko’s FA Cup glory last season, insists his players are approaching the fixture with the right mindset.
“We are working on our attitude and approach. At home, we have to overcome them with a lot of goals to make it easier when we go to Nigeria. We won’t underrate anybody in this competition. I’m optimistic about a win on Sunday, Inshallah,” Zito noted to the media.
Their opponents, Kwara United, come into the contest with pedigree of their own, having lifted Nigeria’s Federation Cup last season. The Ilorin-based side is making a third appearance on the continental stage, with their best showing dating back to 2007 when they reached the group phase. Coach Tunde Sanni is backing his side to rise to the occasion.
“I believe Asante cannot do more than what Warri Wolves did, and if we can survive this, we can survive in Ghana,” Sanni said after their recent domestic stalemate against Warri Wolves.
While Kotoko’s cabinet already boasts two African crowns, recent seasons have delivered more disappointment than glory on the continental front. Nevertheless, Zito’s men are determined to shift the narrative.
