Posted by Kumasi Asante Kotoko will kick start their 2022/23 CAF Champions League with a away game against Burkina Faso Champions Racing Club (RC) Kadiogo in the Preliminary round in Benin.
The game was initially scheduled to take place at the Stade de Yamoussoukro in Cote d’Ivoire on Friday, September 9 but was moved to the Stade de l’Amitié Général Mathieu Kérékou in Benin due to renovation works at the Stade de Yamoussoukro.
Today’s game will be the first meeting between the two sides and Asante Kotoko are well prepared for the encounter having spent their preseason in Sudan and played friendly games against 3 clubs who will also compete in the CAF Interclub competitions.
The Porcupine Warriors lost 2-0 and 5-0 to Al Hilal Omdurman in back to back games, 4-2 to Simba and drew 1-1 in their final game against Al Ahli Khartoum.
Despite failing to get the desired results in the games, head Coach Seydou Zerbo who knows so much about RC Kadiogo believes the experience in Sudan will shape his team for the Champions League campaign.
Team news
The Porcupine Warriors travelled to Benin with a 22-man team. The Reds are without a number of players who played key roles in their league triumph last season, Imoro Ibrahim, Fabio Gama, Mudasiru Salifu and erstwhile skipper Imoro Ibrahim have all left the club.
Asante Kotoko travelled to Benin without talisman Franck Etouga Mbella who’s currently nursing an injury, Stephen Amankona, Augustine Agyapong, Patrick Asmah and new signees Rocky Dwamena and Eric Zeze didn’t make the squad.
The likes of Ibrahim Danlad, Steven Mukwala, Isaac Oppong, George Mfegue, Richard Boadu, Enoch Morrison, Ernest Osei Poku, Richmond Lamptey and so on made the traveling squad.
Predicted lineup
Kickoff time
The game will kickoff at 4:00 pm and will be played at the Stade de l’Amitié Général Mathieu Kérékou in Benin. The game will not be opened to fans.
Prediction
Kumasi Asante Kotoko will take excitement from the fact that the game will be played on away soil and will not be open to fans. With the necessary arrangements made in preseason and the squad available to Burkinabe Coach Seydou Zerbo, Kotoko are likely to pick a positive result from today’s game. We predict the game to end in a 1-1 draw.