Sunday 17th, February 2013
Asante Kotoko (Ghana) Vs Sony El Nguema (Equatorial Guinea)
Joseph Ocaya’s Asante Kotoko’s journey to the Group phase of the 2013 CAF Champions League begins against Sony Ela Nguema of Equatorial Guinea on Sunday in Kumasi.
The Porcupine Warriors are making a return to the continent’s flagship inter-clubs competition in four years.
The two-time African champions have not been impressive in the Ghana Premier League and that has nourished doubts about their performance.
Ochaya who joined the club mid last year will be making his debut appearance in continental club competition.
New Kotoko coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani who took over in September has done very little to win the fans over but guiding the team to third place before the break brings some respite and will be aiming at registering a decent result against Nguema in order to progress to the next round.
Sony ela Nguema have 13 league titles under their belt and are bent on going far this time round.
They stepped up their preparations for the upcoming by touring Cameroon for two weeks after.
In 1999, The Maringues were beaten 6-0 in Accra by Hearts of Oak in the qualifiers of the Champions League and lost the return leg 3-0 in Malabo.