2025-26 CAF CONFEDERATION CUP PREVIEW: KUMASI ASANTE KOTOKO (GHANA) TAKES ON  WYDAD AC (MOROCCO) IN HIGH-STAKES CONFEDERATION CUP ENCOUNTER

By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike) and Aaron Kintoh

Predictions: Home win/draw

• Asante Kotoko are set to face Wydad Athletic Club (AC) in the first leg of the 2nd round of the CAF Confederations Cup on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 pm.

• Asante Kotoko secured a 5-3 aggregate victory over Nigerian club Kwara United in the first round, paving the way for a colossal clash against Wydad AC.

• This thrilling encounter promises to be a mouthwatering showdown, pitting Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko against Moroccan heavyweights Wydad AC.

• The Porcupine Warriors, two-time African champions, will look to establish an early advantage in front of their passionate home supporters.

• Wydad AC, renowned for their recent dominance in African club competitions, will aim to make a strong statement in Ghana.

• The decisive second leg is scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, where Asante Kotoko will strive to seal qualification to the next stage.

• This matchup reignites a legendary African rivalry spanning over three decades, with the two clubs having previously clashed six times in continental competitions and each encounter has been a thrilling spectacle of drama, pride, and exceptional football.

• Their inaugural encounter took place in the 1987 African Cup  Champions clubs , with Asante kotoko advanced to the next stage in 1-3 aggregate following a gripping two-legged showdown.

• Their third encounter took place in the 2002 African Cup Winners' Cup final, with Wydad securing the title on away goals following a gripping two-legged showdown.

• The Moroccans triumphed 1-0 in Casablanca, and despite Kotoko's 2-1 win in Kumasi, the 2-2 aggregate scoreline ultimately awarded Wydad the trophy.

• Kotoko exacted revenge two years later in the 2004 CAF Confederation Cup Round of 16, defeating Wydad 2-0 in Kumasi and securing a 1-1 draw on the road, advancing with a 3-1 aggregate win.

• The rivalry is reignited over 20 years later, with Asante Kotoko bringing momentum from their 5-3 aggregate win over Kwara United, and Wydad AC, a decorated African club, aiming for a strong campaign in the Confederation Cup.

• Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, simply known as Asante Kotoko, is a professional football club founded on August 31, 1935, and based in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Nicknamed the Porcupine Warriors, and "kum apem a apem beba" in their local dialect, they compete in the Ghana Premier League and play their home matches at the Baba Yara Stadium in Amakom, Kumasi.

• Asante Kotoko's first participation in CAF Inter-Club competitions was the 1966 edition of the African Cup of Champions Clubs. In the first round, Kotoko advanced on a 6-0 aggregate against Etoile Filante (Togo), and Kotoko were eliminated by Stade d'Abidjan (Ivory Coast) on a 2-3 aggregate at the quarter-finals.

• Wydad Athletic Club, often known outside Morocco as Wydad Casablanca, is a Moroccan sports club based in Casablanca. Wydad AC is best known for its professional football team that competes in Botola, the top tier of the Moroccan football league system. They are one of three clubs to have never been relegated from the top flight.

• It was founded on May 8, 1937 by seven Moroccans belonging to the national movement for independence, led by Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi. They initially focused on water polo to give indigenous Moroccans the right to access swimming pools before Mohamed Ben Lahcen Affani - also known by the nickname of "Père Jégo" ("Father Jégo") - created the football section in 1939. He was the first manager of the team. The club has traditionally worn a red home kit since inception.

• Wydad Athletic Club's first participation in CAF Inter-Club competitions was the 1987 edition of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, which was later changed to CAF Champions League. In the first round, Wydad AC advanced on a 5-1 aggregate against ASC Police (Mauritania).

• Coincidentally, Wydad AC met Asante Kotoko at the second round, and Wydad AC were eliminated by Asante Kotoko on a 1-3 aggregate.

• Accra Real Republicans were the first Ghanaian club to compete in the inaugural edition of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, joining the competition at the semi-final stage of the final tournament, where they lost their first game.

January 31, 1965 (Semi-Finals)

Venue: Accra Stadium

Attendance: 50,000

Real Republicans          1-2 Oryx Douala (Cameroon)

• Accra Real Republicans were the first Ghanaian club to win a game in the CAF Inter-club competition, which was on February 5, 1965, against Cotton Factory Club in a bronze medal match in the 1964-65 edition at the Accra Stadium.

February 5, 1965 (Bronze medal match)

Venue: Accra Stadium

Real Republicans          3-1 Cotton Factory Club (Ethiopia)

Kofi Pare 57', Amusa Gbadamosi 65', Charles Addo Odametey 79' (pen)//Abdelle 50'

• Later in 1997, CAF changed the name of the competition from the African Cup of Champions Clubs to the CAF Champions League, in line with UEFA's own Champions League.

• In 2004, the CAF Cup was merged with the Cup Winners' Cup, and was renamed the CAF Confederation Cup after the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

• Asante Kotoko were the first Ghanaian club to play against a Moroccan opponent when they met in the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1987, which was the 23rd edition of the competition since its inception in 1964.

• Asante Kotoko from Ghana joined the 1987 edition at the first round of the competition, but their opponent, Sporting de Bissau from Guinea-Bissau, withdrew, and Kotoko had a walkover to the second round, where, coincidentally, they met Wydad AC in a home and away tie.

• NB: Asante kotoko from Ghana progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition after winning 1-3 aggregate.

• The 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup, officially known as the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup for sponsorship purposes, will be the 23rd edition of the tournament and the 51st overall season of Africa's secondary club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

• Head-to-Head since 1987.

Ghanaian Clubs vs Moroccan clubs

Total matches played      - 40

Ghanaian Clubs wins       - 15

Goals scored                     - 47

Moroccan clubs wins       - 18

Goals scored                     - 55

Drawn games                    - 7

• Head-to-Head on Ghanaian soil since 1987.

Total matches played      - 20

Ghanaian Clubs wins       - 15

Goals scored                     - 38

Moroccan clubs wins       - 1

Goals scored                     - 11

Drawn games                    - 4

• Note: The only club from Morocco to have won on Ghanaian soil is FAR Rabat, in the 2005 CAF Confederation Cup (Group stage)

August 21, 2005 (1st leg)

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

King Faisal                     1-2 FAR Rabat

Abubakar Yahuzar//Mohammed Elfaddio, Iddrissi Kaddio

• Asante kotoko Head-to-Head against Wydad AC since 1987.

• May 3, 1987 (1987 African Cup of Champions Clubs) [Second round] {1st leg}

Venue: Complex Sportif Mohammed V, Casablanca

Wydad AC                      1-1 Asante kotoko

May 15, 1987 (2nd leg)

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Asante kotoko              2-0 Wydad AC

NB: Asante kotoko advanced to the next stage in 1-3 aggregate   

• November 16, 2002 (2002 Cup Winners' Cup) [Final] {1st leg}

Venue: Complex Sportif Mohammed V, Casablanca

Wydad AC                      1-0 Asante Kotoko

Mohamed Madihi 50'

Manager: Rachid Taoussi (WAC)//Ralf Zumdick (Kotoko)

December 8, 2002 (2nd leg)

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi

Asante Kotoko              2-1 Wydad AC (2nd leg)

Aziz Ansah 54', Michael Osei 84'//Mustapha Talha 73'

NB: Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama was in attendance.

Manager: Ralf Zumdick (Kotoko)//Rachid Taoussi (WAC)

NB: Wydad AC won on away goals (2-2 on aggregate).

• July 11, 2004 (2004 CAF Confederation Cup) [Play-off round] {1st leg}

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Asante Kotoko              2-0 Wydad AC

Yusif Alhassan Chipsah 38', Nana Arhin Duah 61'

Wydad AC                      1-1 Asante Kotoko (2nd leg)

NB: Asante Kotoko advance on 3-1 aggregate to next stage.

Total matches played      - 6

Asante kotoko wins         - 3

Goals scored                     - 8

Wydad AC wins                 - 1

Goals scored                     - 4                     

Drawn games                    - 2

Asante kotoko Head-to-Head at Home against Moroccan opponents since 1987.

Total matches played      - 7

Asante kotoko wins         - 7

Goals scored                     - 14

Goals conceded                - 2                     

• May 15, 1987 (1987 African Cup of Champions Clubs) [Second round] {2nd leg}

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Asante kotoko              2-0 Wydad AC   

• 1990 African Cup of Champions Clubs (second round) [2nd leg]

Asante kotoko              1-0 FAR Rabat

• May 9, 1993 (1993 African Cup of Champions Clubs) [second round] {1st leg}

Asante kotoko              3-0 Kawkab Marrakech

• December 8, 2002 (2002 Cup Winners' Cup) [Final] {2nd leg}

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi

Asante Kotoko              2-1 Wydad AC

Aziz Ansah 54', Michael Osei 84'//Mustapha Talha 73'

NB: Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama was in attendance.

Manager: Ralf Zumdick (Kotoko)//Rachid Taoussi (WAC)

• July 11, 2004 (2004 CAF Confederation Cup) [Play-off round] {1st leg}

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Asante Kotoko              2-0 Wydad AC

Yusif Alhassan Chipsah 38', Nana Arhin Duah 61'

• March 6, 2005 (2005 CAF Champions League)  [first round] {Semi-final}

Asante kotoko              1-0 FAR Rabat

• March 15, 2009 (2009 CAF Champions League)  [First round] {1st leg}

Asante kotoko              3-1 Ittihad Khemisset

• Wydad AC (Morocco) Head-to-Head Away Games against Ghanaian opponents since 1987.

Total matches played      - 5

Wydad AC wins                 - 0

Goals scored                     - 1

Ghanaian clubs wins        - 5

Goals scored                     - 9                                       

Drawn games                    - 0

• May 15, 1987 (1987 African Cup of Champions Clubs) [Second round] {2nd leg}

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Asante kotoko              2-0 Wydad AC

• May 28, 2000 (2000 CAF Cup( [Second round] {2nd leg}

Venue: Robert Mensah Stadium, Cape Coast

Ebusua Dwarfs             2-0 Wydad AC

Stephen Owusu (brace) 35', 47'

• December 8, 2002 (2002 Cup Winners' Cup) [Final] {2nd leg}

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi

Asante Kotoko              2-1 Wydad AC

Aziz Ansah 54', Michael Osei 84'//Mustapha Talha 73'

• July 11, 2004 (2004 CAF Confederation Cup) [Play-off round] {1st leg}

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Asante Kotoko              2-0 Wydad AC

Yusif Alhassan Chipsah 38', Nana Arhin Duah 61'

• October 17, 2021 (2021-22 CAF Champions League) (second round) [1st leg]

Venue: Accra Sports Stadium

Hearts of Oak                1-0 Wydad AC (Morocco)

Isaac Mensah 40'

Manager: Samuel Boadu (Hearts)

• Let's look at North African Clubs winning on Ghanaian Soil since 1969 in CAF Inter-Club competitions.

• NB: North African Clubs have won ten (10) occasions on a Ghanaian soil since 1969 in the CAF Inter-Club Competitions.

LETS SEE:

• The first Club from North Africa to beat a Ghanaian Club at home came in 1982 in a 1982 Cup Winners' Cup (Semi-finals) [2nd leg]

Venue: Accra Sports Stadium

Hearts of Oak                1-2 Arab Contractors (Egypt)

• April 26, 1998 (1998 Cup Winners' Cup) [second round] {1st leg}

Venue Tema Sports Stadium

Ghapoha Readers        0-1 USM Alger (Algeria)

• August 20, 2000 (2000 CAF Cup [Quarter-final] {2nd leg}

Venue: Robert Mensah Stadium, Cape Coast

Ebusua Dwarfs             0-2 Ismaily (Egypt)

Reda Nady 31, Ibrahim Hamam 57

NB: Referee Coffie Codjia Bonaventure from Benin shown Dwarfs defender, Patrick Villars Red card

• August 21, 2005 (2005 CAF Confederations Cup) [Group Stage]

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

King Faisal                     1-2 Far Rabat (Morocco)

Abubakar Yahuzar//Mohammed Elfaddio, Iddrissi Kaddio

• April 5, 2015 (2015 CAF Champions League) [Easter Sunday]

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Asante Kotoko              1-2 MC EL Eulma (Algeria)

• February 12, 2017 (2017 CAF Champions League)

Venue: Tamale Stadium

Wa All Stars                   1-3 Al Ahly Tripoli (Lybia)

• February 21, 2021 (2020-21 CAF Confederation Cup) [play-off round]

Venue: Accra Sports Stadium

Asante kotoko              1-2 ES Setif (Algeria)

• February 23, 2024 (2023-24 CAF Champions League) [Group stage]

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Medeama SC                0-1 Al Ahly (Egypt)

• September 13, 2024 (2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup) [second round]

Venue: Accra Sports Stadium

Nsoatreman FC              0-2 CS Constantine (Algeria)

• September 20, 2025 (2025-26 CAF Champions League) [First round]

Venue: Accra Sports Stadium

Bibiani Gold Stars        0-2 JS Kabylie (Algeria)

Medhi Merghem 20', Babacar Sarr 70'