HISTORY MAKERS: ASANTE KOTOKO WIN ON NIGERIAN SOIL AFTER 55 YEARS

By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike) and Aaron Kintoh 

Kumasi Asante Kotoko secured a vital 1-0 win against Kwara United at the M.K.O. Abiola International Stadium in Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup. 

Kumasi Asante Kotoko booked their ticket to the next round after defeating their Nigerian counterpart Kwara United back-to-back in the First Preliminary Round with a 5-3 aggregate score. 

This marks the first win for Kotoko against a Nigerian team on Nigerian soil since 1970. 

Dazzling midfielder Hubert Gyau pounced on a loose ball and shot powerfully into the bottom left corner to give Kotoko the lead in the 54th minute, breaking the deadlock.

Asante Kotoko won the first leg 4-3, with Emmanuel Antwi, Joseph Ablorh and Albert Amoah scoring crucial goals for Kotoko, while Shola Abdulraheem and Johnmark Atule scored twice for Kwara United in the first leg in Ghana.

This win adds Kotoko to the three teams from Ghana that have recorded victories against Nigerian teams on their soil, previously including Sekondi Hasaacas in 1982 WAFU Cup and Hearts of Oak in 2000 CAF Champions League, who have already won on Nigerian soil. 

Notably, no Nigerian club has eliminated Asante Kotoko from any African inter-club competition since 1970, covering tournaments like the WAFU Cup, CAF Confederation Cup, and CAF Champions League. 

Kumasi Asante Kotoko will face Wydad Athletic Club, a three-time CAF Champions League winner in the next round with the first leg in Ghana between October 17and 19, before traveling to Morocco for the return fixture from October 24 to 26,2025.