Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko tasted their first defeat in the 2018/2019 Caf Confederation Cup after suffering 1-0 loss to Sudanese side Al Hilal at the Omdurman
Stadium- Khartoum.
Waleed Hamid’s first half strike was all that the North East African side needed to begin their Group C opening game of the Caf Confederation Cup with victory over the Ghanaian side.
Kotoko looked a bit a slow in the early stages of the match but came into the game after minutes and matched Al Hilal boot for boot despite failing to the back of the net.
The hosts however, made their dominance count after putting the back at the back of the net before recess, courtesy Waleed’s brilliant strike.
Back from break, Coach CK Akonnor’s side looked more purposeful after putting some good passes together but the attacking pair of Songne Yacouba and Abdul Safiu Fataw could not unlock Al Al Hilal’s resolute defense.
With the Ghanaian side searching for the leveller, Ackonnor brought winger Stephen Nyarko to replace sprinter Emmanuel Gyamfi but the substitution had little impact on Kotoko’s game plan as they failed to at least create any decent chance to salvage them a point in Sudan.
Kotoko’s starting line-up:
Felix Annan (GK), Augustine Sefa, Amos Frimpong, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Ismeal Ganiyu, Richard Senanu, Kwame Bonso, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Abdul Fatawu Safiu, Maxwell Baakoh, Songne Yacouba.
Hilal Starting line-up:
Jamal Salim,Samawal, Emmanuel Arikwachukwu, Addulatif Boya, Faris Addullah, Boubacar Diarra, Nasr El Din Shigel Sharf, Eldin Shiboub, Mohammed Muktar, Waleed Bakhiet, Idriss Mbombo.
