Asante Kotoko will have everything to play for when they travel to Casablanca, Morocco, to face Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) on Friday in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup tie, following a 1-0 home defeat in Kumasi last weekend.
The Porcupine Warriors face a daunting task as they attempt to overturn the narrow deficit against one of North Africa’s most successful sides. But history offers Kotoko both motivation and caution.
Friday’s clash marks the seventh meeting between Kotoko and Wydad in CAF inter-club competitions. The two sides share a rich history dating back to 1987, when Kotoko eliminated Wydad in the African Cup of Champions Clubs after a 1–1 draw in Casablanca and a 2–0 victory in Kumasi. The Reds repeated a similar feat in 2004 in the Confederation Cup, advancing 3–1 on aggregate after a 2–0 win at home and a 1–1 draw away.
However, Wydad’s most memorable triumph over Kotoko came in 2002, when the Moroccan side edged the Ghanaian giants on away goals in the African Cup Winners’ Cup final, despite losing 2–1 in Kumasi after a 1–0 first-leg win in Morocco.
Overall, Ghanaian clubs have met Wydad 13 times, with Ghanaian sides winning six, Wydad taking five, and two ending in draws. In knockout stages, Wydad has eliminated Ghanaian clubs on three occasions and has faced elimination three times with two of them against Asante Kotoko.
Historically, Moroccan soil has been a difficult ground for Ghanaian teams. Out of 20 visits, Ghanaian clubs have suffered 17 defeats, drawn three, and are yet to record a win. Interestingly, Asante Kotoko remains the only Ghanaian club to have drawn matches in Morocco, achieving the feat on three occasions, two of them against Wydad.
In total, Ghanaian clubs have scored just nine goals in Morocco, with Kotoko netting five of them. Dwarfs, Medeama, Hearts of Oak, and King Faisal account for the rest.
Kotoko will therefore aim to make history in Casablanca by not only overturning the 1–0 deficit but also becoming the first Ghanaian club to win on Moroccan soil in CAF competition.
With Wydad holding a slender advantage, Friday’s match promises to be a fierce contest — one that could either extend Kotoko’s proud continental legacy or reinforce Morocco’s dominance over Ghanaian clubs in recent years.
By: Bright Yeboah Taylor ‘BYT’
