Asante Kotoko continued their preparation ahead of the CAF Confederations Cup as they defeated West African Football Academy (WAFA) SC 1-0 in a friendly match on Sunday at the Baba Yara sports stadium.
Naby Keita’s first-half strike was enough to earn the Porcupine Warriors a win over the Sogakope lads.
Coach C.K Akunnor made two changes to the team that faced Medeama SC in the midweek as in-form goalkeeper Felix Annan and Naby Keita replaced Muntari Tagoe and Frederick Boateng in the starting XI.
WAFA also started with a mixture of experienced and young players.
Prosper Ahiabu and Daniel Lomotey were the notable names on their side.
The Reds began the game very well dominating the midfield play and looked to score an early goal to unsettle the academy boys.
It took the visitors some minutes to get going into the game but it was Kotoko who kept threatening and looks like breaking the deadlock.
The Confederation Cup campaigners finally broke the deadlock in the 28th minutes as a fine cross from Amos Frimpong found Naby Keita who coolly headed the ball passed the hapless WAFA goalkeeper Sabi Acquah.
It could have been double just few minutes after Keita’s opener as Obed Owusu’s effort was saved by Acquah.
Emmanuel Gyamfi also came close to adding the second but his header was unbelievably saved by the superb Acquah.
Kotoko kept pushing for the second goal but the resilient WAFA defence was equally up to the task.
The first half ended 1-0 in favour of Asante Kotoko.
C.K Akunnor brought in former Was All Stars winger Maxwell Baako for Prince Aquah while WAFA made four changes to the team that played the first.
Kotoko continued from where they left in the first half taking the ball to their opponent's area and making lots of incursions.
Kwame Bonsu also came in for Richard Senanu as Kotoko searched to consolidate their lead.
The impressive Emmanuel Gyamfi kept on terrorizing the WAFA defence and was awarded a penalty in the 66th minute after his low cross hit the hand of Andrew Ntim.
Amos Frimpong stepped up to effect it but his kick was saved by the impressive Sabi Acquah who produced a goalkeeping masterclass.
Kotoko followed it up with a double substitution. Jordan Opoku and Safiu Abdul Fatawu came in for the injured Umar Bashiru and Obed Owusu.
The academy boys showed a lot of promises in the game but were unable to register a shot on target.
Frederick Boateng came in for goalscorer Keita in the 85th minute and was quickly neatly set up by Jordan Opoku, but his shot was blocked by the WAFA defence.
Three minutes of additional time was added but none of the sides was able to make use of it as the referee Ernest Baafi blew his whistle for the end of the game.
Asante Kotoko XI :
Gk Felix Annan, Amos Frimpong, Abass Mohammed , Agyemang Badu, Abdul Ganiyu, Umar Bashiru, Richard Senanu, Emmanuel Gyamfi., Prince Acquah, Obed Owusu, Naby Keita Laye.
Subs Maxwell Baakoh, Kwame Bonsu, Jordan Opoku and Frederick Boateng.
WAFA start list:
Sabi Acquah. Andrews Ntim, Nii Aqcuaye Bortey. Konadu Yiadom, Seidu Faisal, Ahiabu Prosper, Alhassan Mubarak, Daniel Lomotey, Amankwah Forson, Augustine Boakye , Cheik Ouadrago Umar.