In about 24 hours from now Asante Kotoko will have their fate determined in this years’ CAF Champions League.
The two begging questions remain, will Kotoko pull a surprise in Khartoum against Al Hilal and give meaning to the huge financial spending or it will be the same old story?
Nothing is going on well for the Porcupine Warriors on the field. They have been reduced to an ordinary battling for survival. The league which is supposed to serve as their basis for the continental is hitting hard on them. The strikers are not finding the net and at the same time the defenders are allowing in the goals.
The North African side came to Ghana to show how Asante Kotoko was not prepared for the continental prestigious club competition. They showed intent and purpose whiles Kotoko sat aloof watching. The Sudanese side proved to Kotoko that their decision to go to Africa was premature and was backed by exuberance of some people but not do anything extraordinary.
Going to the home ground of a team that outplayed, outstretched and beat you in your home ground is scary. The only positive Kotoko have had after their defeat to Al Hilal is managing a draw against Medeama, who is not having the best of seasons hence the Warrior cannot be proud of that draw.
Kotoko is also at war with experience and history. Kotoko remains a chopping stick for most of the clubs from the North in CAF club competition especially in their away outing. The memories of Al-Ahly, JSK of Algeria, Zamalek and several are still fresh in the history books which Kotoko must be guided against.
The only positive Kotoko can take solace in is the fact that Al Hilal are beatable. The Khartoum based club has shown in their last two Premier League games, Kotoko can cause havoc away from home on Wednesday. Al Hilal drew 2-2 to Al Shorta at home after they had lost to Al Khartoum. This gives Kotoko some bit of comfort going into the game.
However the big question remains, can Johnson Smith and his charges “pull the chest-knot” amid the overwhelming deficiencies?
