Asante Kotoko head coach, C.K. Akonnor, gave his defence very low ratings after their 3-1 loss at Nkana on Sunday in their third Group C game in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Kotoko’s central defensive pair of Abdul Ganiyu and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu failed to deal with the threats of the Nkana forwards on the day and were culpable in the goals the Reds conceded on the day.
Speaking after the match, Akonnor said he was not pleased with what he saw and he was very candid in his assessment of the team’s rear guard.
“Today, Nkana won the game based on one thing and that was our defence. We were not able to contain the crosses. We had seen the opponent and we knew their strengths and there was the need for us to stop the crosses.”
“We lacked an understanding of the aerial situations and it cost us on the day. I had the players who I thought were capable of doing the job for us but they could not deliver and we failed as a team.”
Kotoko’s leaky defence had been a concern for observers and even Akonnor as they had conceded goals all through the qualifying phase and their first two group games of the competition.
In total, the Porcupine Warriors have given away 11 goals so far in the entire competition (comprising qualifiers and group games).
They will hope for a quick turn of fortune as they face Nkana in Kumasi on March 3 in the first of the final three group games.
As things stand, Kotoko are bottom of the group on 3 points with Nkana on top on 6 points, with Zesco and Al Hilal on 4 points each.
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By: Citi Sports