CAF CC: Akonnor unhappy with draw against Al Hilal

Asante Kotoko gaffer CK Akonnor was hoping to be the first coach to qualify the Porcupine Warriors to the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in 16 years but was stopped by Sudanese side Al Hilal.

A win for the Porcupine Warriors would have seen them pick a quarterfinals tickets but the home side had to claw back to pick a point with a late striker from striker Songne Yacouba after Waleed Hamid broke the deadlock on the 32nd minute.

Disappointed by the results, the Kotoko trainer is obviously not a happy man considering that his side will have to beat ZESCO in Zambia to secure qualification, a task that seems herculean.

Speaking to the media after the game, Akonnor couldn’t hide his frustration with the result and felt his team missed the chance to qualify to the quarterfinals of the competition.

“Throughout the week, we weren’t ourselves. Honestly, I don’t know what happened but Konte (Bonsu) who has been the been the engine of the team wasn’t himself today.

“We really suffered in the game. It felt like a defeat. Now we have to go to Zambia and win,” he said.

“No Coach would be happy with the results. We kept losing key players in the team. Sometimes it difficult.

“We have to go to Zambia and win whatever the situation. Those who are injured are injured. We have to make do without them,” he added in a frustrated voice.

Asante Kotoko will have to beat Zesco United in a week time to secure their qualification to the quarterfinals of the competition.