Asante Kotoko S/C gave visitors, Nkana F/C, a dosage of their own portion, with a 3-0 victory over the Zambians in a crucial Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Confederation’s Cup group stage encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, on Sunday.
The Porcupine Warriors lost 1-3 to their Zambian counterparts a week ago, and coming into the game, they were as usual, expected to be ruthless, especially on an afternoon when Nkana looked a pale shadow of themselves.
Abdul Fatawu inspired the two-time African champions into getting an early lead as his third minute free-kick found the back of the net.
Goalie Allan Chibwe, ostensibly, underestimated the potency of the kick only for him to be beaten in the process.
Kotoko’s slippery winger, Emmanuel Gyamfi, increased the homers’ goal tally to two in the 22nd minute.
The speedster scored from a rebound after Nkana’s goalie Chibwe failed to make a first time save from a well-taken shot from one of the homers’ front men.
Gyamfi, who had to stretch his leg in the process of scoring the goal, was changed for Kwame Boahen as he could no longer continue the match due to injury.
Skipper Walter Bwalya would unleash a thunderbolt of a shot in the 24th minute from a swift counter-attack by the Zambians, but It missed the target.
Just as the visitors were gathering momentum at this stage of the match, Kotoko’s defender, Martin Antwi, deflated their ego, scoring from a long-range free-kick in the 26th minute to register the third goal for the Porcupine Warriors.
Nkana who were visibly dazed by the tactical superiority displayed by their opponents brought in Kelvin Malunga to replace a frustrated goalie Chibwe in the 30th minute.
The visitors substituted Festus Mbewe for Harris Musonda in the second half, while Kotoko brought on Stephen Nyarko for goal-scorer Martin Antwi.
It was Nkana who looked the more determined side getting into the latter stage of the match, however, the homers remained resolute to end proceedings in their favour.
