PREVIEW: NIGERIA'S KWARA UNITED TAKES ON GHANA'S ASANTE KOTOKO IN 2025-26 CAF CONFEDERATION CUP 2ND LEG 

By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike) and Aaron Kintoh 

Ghana representative Kumasi Asante Kotoko will go head-to-head against Nigerian side Kwara United in the first preliminary round second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup. 

Asante Kotoko will travel to Nigeria for the second leg against Kwara United at Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola International Stadium on Sunday, September 28, 2025, with kickoff at 3 pm Ghana time. 

Coach Karim Zito continues to cling onto his job as Kotoko boss, but the fans are far from happy with him after mass protests took place following their first leg tie against Kwara United, calling for his sacking. 

The Ghanaian giants were able to stave off the distractions and run out 4-3 victors despite several mistakes from individual players.

Kwara United comes in well-motivated ahead of the return fixture after losing by a single goal margin on the road in Ghana against Asante Kotoko. 

Their destiny to progress into the next round of competition depends on them being able to overwhelm Kotoko at home by netting at least three goals. 

Kwara United coach Tunde Sanni ahead of CAF CC second leg in Nigeria

“It was not like us to concede that many, but I must give credit to the boys for fighting back and scoring three times away from home,” he said. “Those goals are very important for us going into the second leg," he added.

“Kotoko cannot stop us here. We are a difficult team to beat in Abeokuta, and with our fans behind us, we will show our true strength”.

“We had a few players who were not fully sharp in Accra, but back at home I am sure they will step up,” he explained. “We will also tighten up defensively and make sure we don’t give Kotoko easy chances," he continued.

“This is the kind of match that defines a team’s character. We respect Kotoko, but we believe in ourselves. If we play with discipline and take our chances, we will go through."

“Our supporters should come out in numbers. Their energy will push us to get the result we need,” he said.

Abdul Karim Zito ahead of CAF CC second leg in Nigeria

I've seen my mistakes and I have to do well and rectify them before we go there," Zito stated, acknowledging the need for better organization after his team conceded three goals in the first leg.

The veteran coach revealed his approach will focus on addressing the defensive lapses that surprised him in the initial match. "Today, if you were to be in my dressing room, I applauded the attackers and then told the defenders, you are surprising me," Zito recounted of his post-match analysis.

While acknowledging the challenge of continental competition, particularly for players new to this level, Zito emphasized the importance of learning quickly. "This is the first time some of them are playing in this type of competition, it's not easy but we must adapt," he noted.

Kotoko comes in with the history of Nigerian sides not being able to knock out Kotoko at this stage of the competition, which will guide and inspire them as they aim to build on their one-goal lead and secure a place in the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup after failing to secure a convincing win at home during the first leg.

The winner of this two-legged tie will face Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club in the next round. The CAF Confederation Cup features a group stage with 16 teams divided into four groups of four, playing in a round-robin format. The top two teams in each group will progress to the quarterfinals.

CAF Confederation Cup Structure:

1. First Preliminary Round: 64 teams compete home and away, with aggregate winners advancing.

2. Second Preliminary Round: 32 winners progress to face higher-ranked clubs entering at this stage.

3. Group Stage: 16 teams divided into four groups of four, playing in a round-robin format (home and away). Top two teams in each group progress to the quarterfinals.

CAF schedules matches over a three-day weekend window, with home-and-away ties determined by the draw. Away goals apply if aggregate scores are level, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary. Extra time is not played in the preliminary rounds.

• Accra Real Republicans were the first Ghanaian club to compete in the maiden edition of the African Cup of Champions Clubs. They joined the competition in the final tournament at the semi-finals, where they lost their first game.
31st January, 1965 (Semi-Finals) 
Venue: Accra Stadium
Attendance: 50,000
Real Republicans          1-2 Oryx Douala
Tawiah 2'//Walter Ebelle 63', Epete 75'

• Accra Real Republicans are the First Ghanaian club to win a game in the CAF Inter-club competition, that was February 5, 1965 against Cotton Factory Club in a Bronze medal match in the 1964-65 edition at the Accra Stadium. 
5th February, 1965 (Bronze medal match)
Venue: Accra Stadium
Real Republicans          3-1 Cotton Factory Club
Pare 57', Gbadamosi 65', 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.

- Ebusua Dwarfs were the first Ghanaian club to play against a Nigerian opponent when they met in the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1968, which was the 4th edition of the competition since its inception in 1964.

- Ebusua Dwarfs from Ghana joined the 1968 edition at the first round of the competition in a home and away tie against Stationery Stores from Nigeria: Stationery Stores won 3-2 in the 1st leg, while Ebusua Dwarfs won 2-1 in the 2nd leg.

- NB: Stationery Stores from Nigeria progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition after winning a draw of lots against Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs.

• The African Cup Winners' Cup was a football competition that started in 1975 and merged with the CAF Cup in 2004 to form the CAF Confederation Cup. It was a competition between the winning clubs of domestic cups in CAF-affiliated nations and was modelled after the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

• 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 1968.
Nigerian Clubs vs Ghanaian Clubs 
Total matches played      - 42
Nigerian Clubs wins         - 17
Ghanaian Clubs wins       - 20
Drawn games                    - 5

• The above head-to-head record includes the WAFU Inter-Club Championship, CAF Confederation Cup, and CAF Champions League.

• Nigerian clubs against Ghanaian clubs: head-to-head record in the knock-out stage, including the WAFU Championship and Super Cup final.

Total matches played      - 10
Nigerian wins                     - 4
Ghanaian wins                   - 6

• In the 2023-24 CAF Champions League at the knockout stage, First round, Medeama SC met Nigerian opponent.
August 20, 2023 (1st leg)
Medeama SC                1-0 Remo Stars 
August 27, 2023 (2nd leg)
Remo Stars                    1-0 Medeama SC 

NB: Medeama SC advanced to the next stage of the competition on 3-2 penalties.

• In the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup, Dreams FC faced Rivers United in the Group C home and away matches.
• December 3, 2023 
Dreams FC                     2-1 Rivers United 
• March 3, 2024
Rivers United                 2-1 Dreams FC

* Asante Kotoko Head-to-Head against Nigerian opponents.
Total matches Played      - 11
Nigerian clubs wins          - 4
Asante Kotoko wins         - 6
Drawn game                       - 1

* 1970 African Cup of Champions Clubs/CAF Champions League (2nd Round) [1st Leg]
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Ibadan
 Stationery Stores        3-2 Asante Kotoko

• Monday, June 29, 1970 (1970 African Cup of Champions Clubs/CAF Champions League) [2nd leg]
Venue: Kumasi Sports Stadium 
Asante Kotoko              1-0 Stationery Stores
Ibrahim Sunday

NB: Asante Kotoko were leading 1-0 in the second half of extra time, and Kotoko were awarded a penalty. However, Stationery Stores refused to allow the penalty to be taken, and the match was abandoned. CAF subsequently ruled that Asante Kotoko should be considered the winners of the tie.

• August 8, 2004 (2004 CAF Confederation Cup) [Group stage, 1st leg] {Group A}
Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium 
Asante Kotoko              3-1 Enugu Rangers
Stephen Oduro, William Tierro, Michael Osei

• October 30, 2004 (2004 CAF Confederation Cup) [Group stage, 2nd leg] {Group A}
Enugu Rangers             2-1 Asante Kotoko
Igho Oteghari 20', Ugochukwu Okeke 21'//Charles Taylor 70'

• March 22, 2008 (2008 CAF Confederations Cup) [First round] {1st leg}
Wikki Torrists                2-2 Asante Kotoko
Rabiu Baita, Abubakar Babale// Daniel Nii Adjei, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour

• April 6, 2008 (2008 CAF Confederation Cup) [First round] {2nd leg}
Asante Kotoko              4-1 Wikki Torrists
Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Eric Bekoe (Brace), Francis Coffie

• April 27, 2008 (2008 CAF Confederation Cup) [Second round]
Dolphins FC                   2-0 Asante Kotoko
Owazuoke Wobo, Prince Nnake

• May 11, 2008 (2008 CAF Confederation Cup) [2nd leg]
{Rain-off}
Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium 
Asante Kotoko              1-0 Dolphins FC
Jordan Opoku 
NB: The match was abandoned at halftime with Asante Kotoko winning 1-0 due to a storm that flooded the pitch. The match was replayed the next day."

• May 12, 2008 (Replay)
Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium 
Asante Kotoko              4-1 Dolphins FC
Samuel Inkoom, Eric Bekoe(Brace), Kwabena Yaro//Prince Anokye (OG)

• Saturday, August 10, 2019 (2019-20 CAF Champions League) [Preliminary round] {1st leg}
Venue: Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano
Kano Pillars                   3-2 Asante Kotoko
Rahaqqu Adam 12', Mohamed Ali Rabiu 70', Mohamed Gambo 75'//Justice Blay 52', Godfred Asiamah 86'

• August 25, 2019 (2019-20 CAF Champions League) [Preliminary round] {2nd leg}
Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium 
Asante kotoko              2-0 Kano Pillars 
Kelvin Andoh 12', Emmanuel Gyamfi 81'

• Sunday, September 21, 2025 (2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup) [Preliminary round] {1st leg}
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium 
Asante kotoko              4-3 Kwara United 

• Note: No club from Nigeria has eliminated Asante Kotoko from any African inter-club competition since 1970 (WAFU Cup, CAF Confederation Cup, and CAF Champions League).

• Asante kotoko are winless on Nigerian soil in the CAF Inter-club competition since 1970 (WAFU Cup, CAF Confederation Cup, and CAF Champions League).

• The only clubs from Ghana to have won on Nigerian soil are Sekondi Hasaacas and Accra Hearts of Oak.

• October 16, 1982 (1982 WAFU Club Championship) [Final] {1st leg}
Spartans of Owerri FC     0-1 Sekondi Hasaacas

• NB: Heartland FC formerly Spartans of Owerri. 

• August 19, 2000 (2000 CAF Champions League) [Group stage] {Group B}
Venue: Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi
Lobi Stars                       0-2 Hearts of Oak 
Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Ishmael Addo

• Kwara United Football Club is a Nigerian football club based in Ilorin. They play in the top division in Nigerian football, the Nigeria Professional football League having gained promotion in 2017 from the Nigeria National League. Their home stadium is the Kwara State Stadium.

Performance in CAF competitions:
1. CAF Confederation Cup: 2 appearances 
- 2007       Group stage 
- 2023-23 second round

2. CAF Cup: 1 appearance 
- 1999 Quarter-final

- 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.

Performance in CAF competitions:
1. CAF Champions League (formerly African Cup of Champions Clubs): 26 appearances
[1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019-20]

2. CAF Confederation Cup (formerly CAF Cup Winners' Cup): 13 appearances
[1979, 1985, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2019, 2020]

Honours:
1. Champion (1970, 1983) - CAF Champions League formerly African Cup of Champions Clubs.

2. Finalist 
- 2002 CAF Cup Winners' Cup 
- 2004 CAF Confederation Cup 

• Kwara United is currently 13th with 5 points after 4 games played in the 2025-26 NPFL, while Asante kotoko SC, on the other hand, is 7th with 3 points after 1 game played in the 2025-26 season of the Ghana Premier League.