Asante Kotoko head coach Abdul Karim Zito has admitted he was left surprised by his team’s defensive performance in their CAF Confederation Cup clash with Nigeria’s Kwara United.
The Porcupine Warriors secured a narrow 4-3 victory in the first leg of the preliminary round tie at the Accra Sports Stadium, but their defensive lapses allowed the visitors to stay within touching distance.
Kotoko conceded twice in the first half and, after striker Albert Amoah extended the lead to 4-2 in the 73rd minute, Abdulraheem Shola pulled one back for Kwara in the 85th minute to set up a tense finish.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Zito expressed mixed feelings about the result, praising his attackers while lamenting the defending.
“Well, I was also surprised by the goals we conceded — just as you were surprised. If you were in my dressing room today, you’d have seen it: I applauded the attackers but told the defenders, ‘you are surprising me,’” he said.
Zito, however, acknowledged the inexperience of some of his players at this level and stressed the need for improvement ahead of the return leg in Nigeria on Sunday, September 28.
“This is the first time some of them are playing in a competition like this — it’s not easy. But I’ve seen the mistakes, and I must work to rectify them before we go there,” he added.
