Kotoko Meet AS Police in Semi Finals

Kumasi asante Kotoko will meet AS Police of the Congo in the semi-finals of the African cup winners cup.

Unheralded policemen reach African semi-finals
Unheralded AS Police of the Congo have joined a strong set of semi-finalists in the African Cup Winners' Cup after a convincing 3-0 win over Al Mourada of Sudan in their quarter-final, second-leg tie in Brazzaville.

The policemen had never progressed so far in African club competition before but now join USM Alger, Asante Kotoko and Wydad Casablanca, all among the traditionally stronger sides in continental competition, in the final four.

AS Police's win at Brazzaville's newly refurbished national stadium gave them a 4-0 aggregate triumph and a dream semi-final draw against Asante Kotoko.

The Ghanaian club, who fired Scottish coach Ian Porterfield last week, had to survive some anxious moments in Egypt on Saturday night before winning on aggregate by the odd goal in nine against Ghazl Al Mahalla.

Kotoko, with new German coach Ralf Zumdick in charge for his first game, had a 3-0 lead from the first leg in Kotoko a fortnight ago but quickly saw that wiped out by their Egyptian hosts, with Mohamed Mahrous El Etrawi grabbing two goals for Mahalla.

But striker Michael Osei scored twice inside nine minutes midway through the second half to double his tally in this year's competition and although Kotoko conceded a fourth goal, they still won 5-4 on aggregate.

Algeria's USM Alger and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco play in the other semi-final.

USMA had little trouble dispatching US Transfoot from Madagsacar at home on Friday night, winning 8-2 for an emphatic 11-3 aggregate triumph.

Their eight-goal haul included a hat-trick for Abed Benchergui and two for Karim Ghazi.

Former African champions Wydad Casablanca had to claw their way back to edge past AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday night.

Down 0-1 from the first leg, Wydad conceded an early goal to go further behind on aggregate but fought back to score three without reply, including two penalties from veteran defender Lahcen Abrami.

The semi-finals will be played over two legs next month.