Wydad Casablanca edge Asante Kotoko 1–0 in CAF Confederation Cup first leg in Accra

Asante Kotoko’s hopes of advancing in the CAF Confederation Cup took a hit on Sunday evening after a narrow 1–0 home defeat to Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of their playoff clash at the Accra Sports Stadium.

A decisive strike from Joseph Bakasu early in the second half proved enough to hand the visitors a crucial away win, leaving Kotoko with an uphill task ahead of the return leg in Casablanca.

The Porcupine Warriors began brightly under the floodlights, displaying composure and determination as they dictated the game’s early tempo. Albert Amoah nearly opened the scoring when he failed to connect properly with Samba Oniel’s clever flick inside the penalty area. Wydad, however, looked dangerous on the counter, testing Kotoko’s defensive structure at every opportunity.

In the 31st minute, Kotoko came close again as Amidu Acquah’s powerful low drive narrowly missed the post, drawing a collective gasp from the home supporters. The Moroccan side responded with purpose, forcing Kotoko goalkeeper Mohammed Camara into a string of impressive saves. Camara’s reflex stop to deny Lorch and his fingertip deflection from Aziz Ki’s close-range shot before halftime kept the score level heading into the break.

But Wydad wasted no time asserting control after the restart. Barely a minute into the second half, Lorch whipped in a teasing cross from the right, and Joseph Bakasu was perfectly placed to guide the ball past Camara, silencing the Kotoko crowd and giving the Moroccan side a vital lead.

Kotoko’s night worsened when Camara was shown a straight red card midway through the second half after he appeared to push the referee in protest over a decision. The dismissal forced head coach Karim Zito to reshuffle his tactics, bringing on Aziz Dari and Emmanuel Antwi to stabilize the depleted side.

Despite being down to ten men, Kotoko refused to sit back. Antwi came close to drawing level in the 65th minute with a curling free kick that skimmed just over the crossbar. Substitute Donzo Morifing later thought he had equalized with a close-range effort, but the assistant referee’s flag quickly went up for offside, crushing hopes of a dramatic comeback.

As the game drew to a tense close, Wydad nearly doubled their lead through substitute El Ouardi, whose header was cleared off the line by Kotoko defender Lord Amoah in the 85th minute. The Ghanaians pressed hard in the final moments but struggled to break down the disciplined Moroccan defence, who expertly managed the clock to preserve their advantage.

Wydad Casablanca’s victory gives them a slim but significant edge going into the return leg in Morocco, where a place in the group stage of the Confederation Cup will be at stake. For Kotoko, the task is clear—they must overturn the deficit in hostile territory, something few visiting teams have managed against Wydad on their home soil.

Head coach Karim Zito remained optimistic after the game, insisting his side can still qualify despite the setback. “We played well and created chances, but football is about taking opportunities. We will go to Casablanca and fight to the end. The tie is not over,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wydad coach Krunoslav Jurčić praised his team’s discipline and game management. “Kotoko are a very good team, but we stayed calm under pressure and took our chance. The job is not finished yet, but we have put ourselves in a strong position,” he remarked.

The defeat marks Kotoko’s first home loss of the 2025/26 campaign, ending their unbeaten run in continental qualifiers. The Ghanaian giants will now have to rely on their attacking trio of Amoah, Oniel, and Antwi to find the goals they need in Morocco to keep their continental dreams alive.

For Wydad, the win strengthens their record as one of Africa’s most consistent sides in recent years. Having already secured major continental silverware in the past decade, including multiple Champions League titles, the Moroccan side now eyes success in the Confederation Cup as part of a broader push to dominate African club football.

The second leg is expected to draw a massive crowd at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, where Wydad boast a formidable home record. Kotoko will have to produce one of their finest away performances in recent memory if they are to overturn the deficit and qualify for the group stage.

With everything still to play for, all eyes now turn to Casablanca, where Ghana’s most successful club will seek redemption in what promises to be a thrilling second-leg encounter.

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