Charles Kwablah Akonnor, head coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko is not happy his team advanced to the next stage of the CAF Confederation Cup on silver platter.
Instead, the former Ashgold manager said he was hoping to play their first game in the preliminary stage in order to test the strength of his players instead of advancing to the one-sixteenth stage without kicking a ball.
Asante Kotoko were gifted a walkover after the Confederation of Africa Football decided to cancel the first round match involving the Porcupine Warriors after the Cameroun Football Federation (FECAFOOT) failed to submit its representative before the deadline.
In a tweet sent by CAF on Saturday, November 24, it said, "Matches #37&38 are cancelled because the deadline for @FecafootOffice to confirm the engagement of second rep. For Total CAF Confederation Cup has elapsed. Asante Kotoko is therefore qualified to the 1/16th round."
Despite expressing dissatisfaction with the decision, Coach Akonnor noted that he was at the same time happy adding he was looking forward to their next game which will be played next month against a Djibouti or Kenyan side.
“It is a mixed feeling. In a way, you will say that you need enough time to prepare and the same way you will want to play the match to test the strength of your team. So it’s a mixed feeling but we are okay.
"We want to be focused and continue with the preparations and we look forward to the next opponent”, C K told Accra-based Class FM.
He added that he was hoping their star striker Yacouba Sogne, who is reportedly battling with a terminal disease, will recover fully and be in good shape to face their next opponent.
Kotoko are the only Ghanaian team participating in the CAF Inter-club competitions for 2018/19 season. They were scheduled to meet an opponent from Cameroun in a first leg at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 28.
Source: GraphicSports