Asante Kotoko suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie at the Accra Sports Stadium, after a costly red card swung the game in favour of the Moroccan giants.
The first half was tightly contested, with both sides showing tactical discipline. Kotoko matched Wydad stride for stride, and the teams went into the break goalless after a cagey opening 45 minutes.
However, the second half started in disastrous fashion for the Porcupine Warriors. Just two minutes after the restart, a defensive lapse left Kotoko exposed and Wydad punished them with a brilliant strike to take the lead.
Kotoko’s evening went from bad to worse when a defensive error forced the shot-stopper to touch the ball outside the 18-yard box, resulting in a straight red card. Reduced to 10 men, Kotoko were forced into a desperate defensive battle to avoid further damage.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Ghanaian side showed resilience and kept the scoreline respectable, ensuring the tie remains open ahead of the return leg.
Kotoko will now need a strong performance away from home to overturn the deficit and keep their Confederation Cup hopes alive.
The second leg promises high tension, Kotoko must deliver if they are to keep their continental dreams on track.
