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Wikki tip Kotoko to win Conf. Cup
By Thomas Boakye-Agyemang
Kumasi Asante Kotoko has been tipped by their eliminated opponents Wikki Tourists as major contenders for this year’s CAF Confederation Cup. Kotoko whacked the Nigerians by four goals to one last Sunday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and despite the fact that close observers of the match criticized Kotoko’s play, their opponents’ spoke highly of the Oseikrom Warriors.
A few players and officials of Wikki who granted audience to the Kotoko Express after the match did not hide their adoration for the Kotoko players but were quick to add that the match officials were largely to be blamed for their elimination. They said the referee whistled against them in the least tackle on Kotoko players forgetting that football is a physical game.
The Nigerians also disagreed with the referee for allowing the second goal by Eric Bekoe, arguing that the ball never crossed the line. Replays however clearly indicated that the ball did cross the line and the referee made the right decision. Officials of Wikki told Kotoko Express that though they were yet to watch replays at the time they were talking to this paper; they were convinced that the “bad goal” broke the fighting spirit of their players.
But one player who will never stop blaming his colleagues for the wasted opportunity is Francis Nduka Nwane, the strong midfielder who played very well on Sunday. The player has predicted that Asante Kotoko is one of the favourites for the trophy and it might take only one of the strong North African sides to eliminate Kotoko from the competition.
“Kotoko is a good side despite the fact that they were lucky to have scored the four goals against us. The fact is that we came to Kumasi with a strategy to get a goal, frustrate Kotoko and eliminate them. We were expecting Kotoko to put so much pressure on us and were told not to allow them to score a goal in the early 20 minutes. That would have frustrated them so we capitalize to score a goal but what happened, they scored on the 20th minute mark and that was too bad for us”.
“This is not the Kotoko we played in Nigeria. They relaxed in Kumasi and we realized we could beat them but we were our own enemies and failed to score. Look at the chances we squandered, unpardonable ones which should have been buried at the back of the Kotoko net".
His skipper, Promise Onuh as well as their consolation goal scorer Phillip Auta shared similar sentiments as they said had the Wikki players taken their chances, things would have been different. They however took consolation from the fact that Asante Kotoko, the team that eliminated them from the tournament is not a bad side. Auta warned Kotoko to be wary of their next opponents Dolphin saying that Kotoko have a very difficult opponent in Dolphins despite the fact that the Nigerians now play in the lower league after suffering relegation from the Premiership last year.
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