KUMASI Asante Kotoko last Saturday were held to a goalless game by Olympique Club of Niger in an international friendly at the Accra Stadium.

Kotoko, playing their third pre-season match at the Accra Stadium showed little promise in the first half but went all-guns blazing in 40 minutes of second half action. However, they failed to pick their targets.

The first half saw Ernst Middendorp’s charges playing a slow game and leaving their fast running Nigeriens covering space and putting a lot of pressure on their defence.

Kotoko’s problems in this half compounded, when the midfield gave in to the Nigeriens who dictated the pace with their fluent play.

The Nigeriens nearly caused an upset in the 15th minute when fast running, Friday Jacobson broke off on the right, rounded up Alex Djanie and passed to striker Aboubacar Maman whose goal-bound shot was intelligently saved by goalkeeper Osei Boateng.

Kotoko took the challenge and nearly went ahead through Joe Okyere, but his diving header to Osei Kwame Jnr’s cross missed the target by inches.

The veteran Joe Okyere nearly gave his side the opener but yet again his header to Abedi Sarfo’s cross took a rebound on the crossbar.

The second half saw Kotoko shaking off their cobwebs and putting a lot of pressure on the visitors. In the 51st minute, Abedi Sarfo made an intelligent solo run but finished off weakly for Olympique Club goalkeeper, Jean Louis to save the shot.

In the 85th minute, Osei Kwame rounded up three Olympique Club defenders but his final delivery from an acute angle hit the upright.