Kumasi Asante Kotoko will be traveling to Zambia to face ZESCO United in a crucial encounter in the final round of matches in the group stage of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Confederation cup.
The home team would be going into the game to make amends following a 3-0 humiliating defeat to their country rivals Nkana FC and would be hoping to avoid back to back defeat in front of their supporters.
The results last week, means the home side’s hope of advancing to the quarter finals of the competition has been wiped out.
The Zega Mambos have disappointingly gone on seven match winless streak in all competitions and drawing three of them which include a 2-1 defeat to Kotoko in Ghana.
Coach George Lwandamina has said, they would take this game very important, because they have the image of country (Zambia) to protect.
“We are eliminated but we will move on from whatever we have gotten and am sure we would be strong and I know this game would not be easy game,” he said.
ZESCO striker Rahim Osman who scored the consolation goal in the first leg defeat against Kotoko has said, they are hoping to win this game to appease their supporters.
“We want to beat Kotoko to bring the spirit and confidence of the supporters back and we are not going to favour them,” he said.
Kotoko on the other hand, knowing that only need a win to book their ticket to the quarter finals of the competition, must shake off the frustration from the 1-1 draw at home to Al Hilal and aim at stunning ZESCO at Ndola.
The Porcupine Warriors away record of this year’s Africa campaign hasn’t been good enough, having lost three of the four with only one win.
Kotoko are two points behind group leaders Nkana and a point behind second placed team Al Hilal.
Coach Charles Kwablan Akunor has said his team still has the chance of qualifying by beating ZESCO, so they would be going all out for a win.
Captain Amos Frimpong has said, the playing body was fully prepared and they are going into the game to fight hard to achieve qualification.
The away side would be without suspended talisman Sogne Yacouba and injury duo Maxwell Baako and Richard Senanu.
The Porcupine Warriors need only a win to advance to the quarter finals but they would have a difficult contest against the home team and with the Red Devils playing in front of their supporters, they have what it takes to at least get a draw in the game.
The crucial game is scheduled to be played on Sunday, March 17, at the Ndola Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Zambia.
Source: GNA | Ghana
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