Kotoko’s Hopes of re-establishing themselves back on the African front suffer another huge dent, it is almost ending in tears again.
Kotoko’s woes against North African counterparts continued last weekend. The porcupine warriors after drawing first blood failed to capitalize on their chances and vast possession to put the game to bed against their Algerian opposition, ES Setif.
The men from Setif managed to turn the game around albeit having little possession. The talk of if Kotoko and other Ghanaian clubs have the quality to perform on the African stage at least once again reared its ugly head.
Tactically, the Algerians came into the game to sit back and catch the kum apem boys on the break and it worked perfectly, prompting far more questions than answers as to if Kotoko is tactically inept on the African stage or not.
A wrong shape and tactical indiscipline cost Kotoko the game as their vast possession blinded them to the threat the Algerians posed on the break, consequently giving away a precious lead early in the second half.
Kotoko’s 4-4-2 shape off the ball was lethargic and lacked the cohesion to either press or mark zonally when they were without the ball, their full-backs were caught out of possession for the most part of the second half.
On the other hand, it looked like a well-rehearsed game plan from the Algerians, as they willingly gave away possession and sat in a mid-block defensive shape to contain the hosts.
They poured men forward when they turned over play quickly to catch Kotoko on the break. They were afforded far too much space in the Kotoko area and it was no surprise they turned the game on its head.
Kotoko will need a footballing miracle to turn the tide in their favor in Algeria and the fact that their recent record against North African sides isn’t any better even makes the task more herculean.
For a side that has had little or no mental fortitude in the last few years on the African stage, this leaves only a little or nothing to hope for, but this is kum apem a apem beba and in a fortnight they will try evoking that spirit to turn the results in their favor at the 8th May 1945 stadium in Setif.
Time will tell if that will see the light of day or not but if the recent history of their travels and tactical aptness is anything to go by then this is almost a lost course.
Fiifi Manfred
