African Cup Winners Cup offers fallen giants a chance of glory

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 11 (AFP) - African Cup Winners Cup quarter-finalists Asante Kotoko of Ghana and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco rank among the top football clubs on the continent.

But reputations, rather than results, have kept them in the forefront with supporters longing for a return of the good old days when success was taken for granted.

Kotoko, a team from the sprawling central city of Kumasi formed 76 years ago by a retired taxi driver and known as the Porcupines, have reached a record seven African Champions League (formerly Cup) finals, winning two.

Their last appearance was nine years ago, though, and they have since been overshadowed at home by greatest rivals, Hearts of Oak, who won the premier African club competition in 2000.

Wydad lifted the African Champions Cup in 1992 and were runners-up to Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia three years ago in the African Football Confederation Cup for national league runners-up.

Like Kotoko, Wydad have been forced to play second fiddle domestically to their fiercest foes, Raja Casablanca, three-time African club champions and strong contenders again this year for the title.

While the Cup Winners Cup offers no prize money and lacks the international television exposure of the Champions League, Kotoko and Wydad view the annual knockout event as an opportunity to reclaim some lost ground.

Wydad coach Rachid Taoussi could have been speaking for Kotoko this week when he said: "We are extremely frustrated. It has been a long time since we won an African title. My hopes are high."

Kotoko appear to have the easier second-leg assignment having established a 3-0 lead over Egyptian visitors Al-Mehalla two weeks ago through goals from Stephen Oduro, Hamza Mohamed and captain Godwin Ablordey.

Followers of the Porcupines have suffered too many setbacks to take anything for granted, however, and will hope a coaching upheaval does not impact negatively on a young squad with limited international experience.

Former Chelsea manager Ian Porterfield was fired last weekend just five months into a one-year contract for "very insulting behaviour" towards an official, a club spokesman claimed.

German Ralf Zumdick takes over a team that has performed well on the road en route to the quarter-finals, drawing 2-2 with Atletico Sonangol in Angola and 3-3 with Santos in South Africa.

Provincial club Al-Mehalla lack the stars, support and resources of Cairo giants Al-Ahly and Zamalek and needed a penalty shootout to derail Express of Uganda before squeezing past Ahl of Libya.

Wydad trail AS Vita of the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 after conceding a goal two minutes into injury time in the intimidating cauldron that is Kinshasa, but their home record offers cause for optimism.

With prolific Brazilian scorer Emerson Nogueira leading the onslaught, the Moroccans outclassed Sonacos of Senegal 3-0 and Alliance Bouake of Ivory Coast 5-0 in previous rounds.

AS Police of Congo, who lead Al-Mourada of Sudan 1-0, and USMA of Algeria, who lead US Transfoot of Madagascar 3-1, enjoy home advantage in the other ties and it would be a shock if either failed to seal a semi-finals spot.