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Porcupine Warriors boss reflects on disappointing result of their first round first leg in Accra
Asante Kotoko’s interim head coach Johnson Smith believes the club’s qualifying hopes for the second round of the Caf Champions League remain alive despite losing to Al Hilal of Sudan in the first leg of the first round on Wednesday.
The Porcupine Warriors’ ambitions suffered a setback at home when Vinny Bongonga scored in the 70th minute to give visiting Hilal a 1-0 win at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Kumasi-based Kotoko decided to adopt Accra for its home games this season due to ongoing renovation works at the Baba Yara sports stadium.
“We are mentalizing the guys after yesterday’s loss. There are more games to come. The next game is the most important,” Smith told West Gold Radio.
“We fight in games at the Accra Sports Stadium.
“Al Hilal’s team is mature and very disciplined. I think we will get a positive result and qualify at Omdurman.”
To qualify for the next round, Kotoko must beat Hilal when the two clubs meet for the second leg in the first week of the New Year.
The Ghanaians won the last of their Champions League titles in 1983.
“The Asante Kotoko are disappointing. They have no quality or creativity,” former Ghana goalkeeper Abukari Damba told GTV Sports Plus of Kotoko’s performance on Wednesday.
“I was surprised by the statistics at the end of the match, but it’s hard to say, but this Kotoko team has a long way to go.
“They are disappointing and if they continue like this, it will be a disaster.
“They can go and win there too, but it’s very difficult at the moment.
“They will have to play with more hunger and commitment at Omdurman.
“It is not an impossible task for Kotoko, but they will have to work hard.”
Kotoko, who beat Mauritania’s Nouadhibou in the preliminary round of the Champions League, has set his sights on moving to the second round and ultimately the group stage they last reached in 2006.
Last season, the search for the Porcupine Warriors ended early as they were eliminated from the competition in the first round by the Tunisian club Etoile Sahel.
