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Kotoko-Wikki battle to 2-2 draw
Report by Thomas Boakye-Agyemang, Bauchi, Nigeria
Posted 25th March 2008
The captain of Wikki Tourists, Nura Nakargo, has committed an abomination by predicting doom for Kumasi Asante Kotoko when the two sides clash in the 2nd leg match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in a fortnight.
Nakargo believes his side was robbed by luck and says they know where Kotoko’s weaknesses are and so will go all out to attack it in the second leg.
“We feel greatly disgraced by this result and it is uncharacteristic of Wikki. We respect Kotoko because of their pedigree in Africa but there is no respect when we meet on the pitch. How come Ghana defeated Czech at the World Cup?”
“Our defender, Nduka, and the goalkeeper committed two blunders that gave Kotoko their goals”
“I also think the referee should have awarded us an offside decision in the move that resulted in Kotoko’s second goal but who do we blame? We have nothing to lose now and will go to Ghana to score at least two goals”.
“Our injured substantive captain, Onuh Promise, will be back and we would have studied the tape to correct our mistakes”, Nakargo said.
That sums up the feeling in the camp of the Nigerians after the match that saw the two sides going for each others throat at the 25,000 Abubakr Tafewa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.
His opinion contradicts that of Kotoko skipper, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, who believes Wikki Tourists should even save themselves from disgrace by not turning up for the second leg.
“The match officials in the first leg are not going to be in Ghana and as such will not help them like they did in Bauchi. They were lucky the referee helped them but when we get them on a good pitch in Kumasi, they will suffer. Even if the referee”, said Kuffour.
Indeed, nothing showed that Asante Kotoko were the visitors as right from kick off, Kuffour and Bekoe launched an attack on the homesters.
Their defenders however had Rwandan Referee Issah Bakanu to thank as he kept Kotoko at bay by whistling for offside anytime Kotoko made a daring move.
By the 3rd minute, Wikki Coach Issa Ladan Bosso was on his feet as he realized his players were showing signs of jitters. Instead of being offensive minded, they decided to defend their area.
Wikki had the first corner of the match, followed by about three minutes of pressure on Kotoko which were all neutralised.
The tide turned again in favour of Kotoko after 20 minutes and the only antidote to contain Kuffour, Bekoe and Coffie was to set offside traps.
Whilst Kotoko players strangely did not seem to have antidote to the offside traps as judged by the referee, Wikki also had some decent chances but always messed them up.
The best chance before the 30th minute fell to Abubakar Ibrahim but with Soulama at his mercy, the lanky midfielder shot wide.
Enterprising Samuel Inkoom who had been kept very busy by Rabbiu Batta broke loose in the 32nd minute and went as far as the opponent’s 18 yard box but with no colleague around to pass to, he decided to be daring, but had his kick going into the side net.
The pressure on Kotoko doubled after this but in Daniel Acquah, Kotoko had no problems as the experienced defender always came to the rescue whenever Wikki tried exploiting the high balls to their advantage.
Osei Kwame jnr gave a dangerous free kick around the 18 yard box of Kotoko when he dangerously went onto Battar. He got the first yellow card of the match in that process.
Wikki scored the first goal two minutes before recess when Soulama miscalculated a cross which was slotted into the net by Rabbiu Batta.
Incensed by the goal, and with pep talks from the technical team and the four management members who went to the dressing room during recess, the Kotoko players lifted their game and found the equalizer in the 49th minute through Nii Adjei.
It was a clever back heel pass from skipper Kuffour that found Nii Adjei who wasted no time in unleashing a non drop shot that bounced on the bumpy pitch before beating the already down goalkeeper Godwin Paul Sunday.
The save of the day was reserved for Soulama who stretched to his elastic limit to punch away Emmanuel Sunday’s shot. Injured Osei Kwame was replaced by George Asare. He immediately made his presence felt by stabilizing the midfield.
Acquah had a yellow card for a harmless tackle on an opponent and it was at this point that the Kotoko players realized that referee Bakanu was up to mischief.
All whistles went against Kotoko while fouls against Kotoko went unnoticed. It was therefore a shock to the whole stadium including the revered Mallam Issah Yuguda, the Governor of Bauchi state when Osei Kuffour scored to put Kotoko in the lead.
Kuffour beat an offside trap and lobbed the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper in the 69th minute.
Wikki made two changes immediately. Whilst Harrison Afful was booked for a rough tackle, Eric Bekoe was seriously disappointed when he missed a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper.
Kwabena Yaro replaced Francis Coffie but it was Wikki that had the last laugh when Abubakar got the much needed equalizer with five minutes to end the match.
It was once again a poor judgement by the Kotoko defenders with Soulama also going late for the ball.
Wikki made every effort to get the winning goal but were nearly punished by Kuffour in the dying minutes of time added on. However, his clever lob was too high to enter the net.
Interestingly, Kuffour was booked for complaining to the referee when it became apparent he had played six minutes of added time instead of the publicised 3 minutes.
Kotoko Line Up
Abdoulaye Soulama, Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful, Daniel Acquah, Prince Anokye, Jordan Opoku, Osei Kwame/George Asare, Daniel Nii Adjei, Eric Bekoe, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Francis Coffie/Kwabena Yaro
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
Stephen Oduro, Nana Arhin Duah, Francis Akwaffo, Ofosu Amoah, Eric Nii Baah
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