Accra, Ghana - Ghana's Asante Kotoko beat El Merreikh of Sudan 1-0 in an African Confederations Cup match played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium here Sunday. Kotoko got the winning goal on the 87 minute when Eric Bekoe hit a powerful left footer into the net.

Coach Bashiru Hayford of Asante Kotoko admitted after the match that the team was in a very tough battle and thanked God for the three points the team got from the match.

He said the Sudanese had many physical advantages over his players as they were taller, better built and stronger but that Kotoko relied on a better technical ability to win the match.

In all, it was a very thrilling game as Kotoko threw everything at the Sudanese but fluffed chance after chance to keep the game barren into the break minutes.

There was more urgency in the play of the Ghanaian champions in the second half but over-anxiety in front of goal denied them any meaningful goal.

Time after time, Eric Bekoe, Kwabena Yaro and Francis Coffie froze before the Sudanese goal and failed to get the necessary goals to translate their superior possession.

While the Kotoko misses continued, the Sudanese relied on their fast breaks to cause problems for their hosts but lacked the competitive edge when it mattered most in the Kotoko vital area.

Coach Hayford shuffled his cards midway through the second half and introduced Stephen Oduro, Francis Akwafo and Kodwo Poku as he ejected Kwabena Yaro, Mark Sekyere and Francis Coffie.

The changes gave Kotoko a new respiratory dynamism as they restricted the visitors to their own half under a persistent siege, leading to the only goal of the match when all hopes appeared lost.

The One-Touch Premier League's lead striker dummied two defenders and let go a hard left footer which kissed the back of the net to send the over 30,000 ecstatic fans into vociferous chants.