Asante Kotoko won 3-2 in Yaounde Cameroon and completed the tie with a 2-1 win in Kumasi, making it 5-3 on aggregate.

WATCH: Asante Kotoko beat Coton Sport in Kumasi to reach CAF CC group stage

CK Akonnor praised his players after the game and revealed their plan before the first leg.

“We went to the 1st leg match against Coton Sport with the idea to qualify before the second leg. What we have shown in the two legs is fantastic and I praise my players for it.” he said.

The second leg of the CAF Confederations Cup will come off on Sunday 20th of January at the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi.

Asante Kotoko coach CK Akonnor ‘proud’ of his players after crucial win

“The players proved against Coton Sport that they have what it takes to achieve success. But the tie is not over so our next target is to complete a double over them and this demands sacrifice,” Akunnor said.

“We’ve done one part of the job here and need to finish them in Kumasi next weekend. I’ve advised the players to celebrate the win now because we have a lot of work to do in Ghana.

“We have to guide against complacency because once we were able to win in front of their fans, anything is possible in Kumasi.

“Coton Sport is a great side and the fact that we came and won doesn’t mean they will allow us to have it easy in the return leg. The win didn’t come easy and a section of the supporters have been complaining about how we play but I believe they can smile a little now,” he added.

Asante Kotoko stunned Coton Sport in Yaounde last Sunday as they managed to beat the Cameroonian club 3-2 to put themselves in a good position for the second leg.

Despite the defeat, the skipper of Coton Sport Kamilou Daouda believes his side will go through and will do their best to eliminate Asante Kotoko in the second leg.

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“We believe in ourselves and the fans know what we can do.We are coming to Kumasi to score 2 goals against Kotoko in the 2nd leg,” the Nigerien international told Nhyira Sports.

Kamilou scored in the first leg in Cameroon and a lot will be expected from the Nigerien forward, who is the club’s longest serving player.

The second leg will be played at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on the 20th of January.

Emmanuel Gyamfi put the visitors in front in the 8th minute by latching onto Abdul Fatawu Safiu’s through pass to go one-on-one with the Coton Sport goalkeeper to slot into the middle of the net.

The goal came after Songne Yacouba and Abdul Fatawu Safiu had taken turns to miss from close range.

Maxwell Baakoh doubled the lead in the 30th minute with a cool finish into the left bottom corner after rounding up two markers.

https://youtu.be/CA3JvE7LMTY

Dauda Kamilo pulled one back for the hosts from the spot after Morrocan referee Samir Guezzaz’s controversial penalty call to Maxwell Baakoh’s tackle on an opposing player in the penalty box.

Fatawu Safiu restored the two-goal lead in the 50th minute by intercepting a pass from the Coton Sport goalkeeper to curl the ball into the far post before Guema Araina drew a consolation goal for the hosts in the 71st-minute with a half volley.

The Porcupine Warriors held on to the lead to hand themselves an advantage in the second tie of the last elimination round, and C. K. Akonnor was happy to see his team play well to win the difficult game.

“Look, you made it happen,” Akonnor told his players after the game. “Yes, you did it, and I am very proud of you.”

“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy”, Akonnor told Kotoko Express App in a later interview. “Coton Sport are a great side, but we had a plan and I am so glad that my players carried through the plan perfectly.”

source: asantekotoko

Here are the goals and highlights:

https://youtu.be/CA3JvE7LMTY

The Porcupines were supposed to fly out of the country on Wednesday with Unity Air which is owned by Executive Chairman of the club Dr. Kwame Kyei.

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But reports are saying that the change was due to the fact that they couldn’t acquire the necessary clearance to leave the country with Unity Air.

We will not be flying to Cameroon with Unity Air as was earlier planned. We will confirm our traveling arrangements soon.#AKSC #Kotoko4Africa #AKCS

— Asante Kotoko SC – 2X CAF CL Winners (@AsanteKotoko_SC) January 9, 2019

Asante Kotoko will face the Cameroonian champions in the first leg on Sunday in Yaounde with the second leg scheduled seven days later in Kumasi.

Lahcen Azgaou and Yousef Mabrouk will be the linesmen in the game.

The match will take place at  Stade Militaire in the Cameroonian capital Yaounde on 13 January, 2018.