Some fans of Kumasi Asante Kotoko have blamed the club’s exit from the CAF Champions League on management’s decision to swap coach CK Akunnor for Kjetil Zachariassen.

Ahead of their CAF Champions League journey, the Kwame Kyei-led management pulled off one of their usual ‘panic button’ moves, asking Akunnor who had led them to success in the NC Special Cup to step aside for Zacharissen.

The move provoked the ire of some fans who questioned the timing as well as the logic in axing a coach whose period with the club can best be described as successful.

The issue was however swept under the carpet after a first round triumph over Nigerian side Enugu Rangers.

But in the wake of their dismal performance against Etoile du Sahel, fans have revisited the issue, lashing out at management for their exit from the continent’s elite club competition.

While holding brief for the playing body, the fans who spoke to GhanaWeb TV slammed the coach and management for their inability to reach the group phase.

Some of them questioned why a team with an objective of winning a trophy would ship out fourteen of its first team players.

In spite of the disappointment, there is still some level of optimism that the club will excel in the Confederation Cup.

Kotoko were knocked out of the CAF Champions League after suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tunisian giants Etoile du Sahel.

They will now compete in the CAF second-tier competition, the Confederations Cup.