Week 23 Preview: Kotoko vs Nations FC

The Porcupines Warriors return to the Baba Yara Stadium this weekend with the hopes of ending their winless run when they take on Nations FC, who are five points clear of their host. .

Head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum and his men had to succumb to yet another defeat last weekend in Dormaa in a game that was characterised by a myriad of hostilities from the home supporters.

When everyone  thought that the seemingly dark art of pre-game intimidation was over and the showdown was in full swing, there came the sound of the whistle from the mouth of Referee Gideon Nii Coffie.

Peircing and destructive as it may sound, his reason for the high decibel of the whistle wasn’t to call for an offside, neither was it a call for an obstruction to an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, but to award a ghost goal from Frederick Asare’s parried left-hand effort onto the frame of the goalpost. Comic as it looked at first sight, the man in black rendered us with a double whammy by awarding the goal and sending Ogum off.

Painful as it was for all concerned, Ogum and his charges need to turn the tide in their favour with the visit of Nations FC, who are second on the league table. 

The reverse fixture earlier in the season ended with Nations needing a late penalty to pull parity in the dying minutes of what was a pulsating game. However, Ogum’s side showed their superiority in the FA Cup by securing an emphatic victory over Sunday’s opponents.

 

The clock is ticking, and time looks to be the ultimate enemy of our Warriors at the moment, with Sunday’s game fast approaching in what is a must win for our Warriors. 

 

🚑TEAM NEWS FOR MATCHDAY 23

 

•We will have to clear this hurdle without first-choice goalkeeper Frederick Asare and star forward Steven Mukwala, who are both on international duty with the Black Stars and the Cranes of Uganda, respectively.

 

•Kalo Ouattara will also be out of this game with a thigh injury.

 

•Ogum looks forward to having Enock Morrison and Isaac Oppong back on Sunday. 

 

 

• Midfielders, Michael Kyei Dwamena and Sherif Mohammed  still remain sidelined with their long-term injuries.

 

📝MATCH DETAILS: Kick-off is at 6:00 p.m. at the Baba Yara Stadium, and a win for Kotoko will potentially bring us back into contention for the league title.