Ghanaian Champions Asante Kotoko are set to forward an initial 24-player list to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) expected to feature in their 2014 CAF Champions League campaign, Footy-Ghana.com can reveal exclusively.
The two-time African Champions are back in Africa hoping to pick up from where they left the last term. Kotoko were booted out of the 2013 competition at home by Algeria’ JSM Bejaia who secured a famous one-all drawn game to advance ahead of the Ghanaians in the round 16 stage.
According to our sources, the porcupine warriors have named two yet-to-be announced signings scouted at the just ended WAFU (Zone B) Championship – Benin’s Souanon Fadel and Bassirou Ouedraogo from Burkina Faso. The latter, Bassirou, was on the radar of the club before the start of the current Ghana Premier League season but a trials engagement with a Belgian club scuppered his move to Kotoko.
Per the 24-man list sighted by FootyGhana, Kotoko look to be hopeful their latest GH¢70,000 bid among other add-ons for New Edubiase United talisman Asiedu Attobrah who the club has been pursuing for the past two seasons will be accepted hence his inclusion.
Returning striker Isaac Boakye and former Medeama SC midfielder Daniel Larbi Koomson complete the list of new additions to the current Kotoko squad.
Notable absentees in the list are Yussif Abdul Aziz, Ransford Osei, Bobie Ansah, Godfred Asante, Richard Yeboah, Kofi Agyare, Joseph Ochaya, Felix Annan Stephen Oduro and Michael Mensah. Kotoko are 6 short of the 30 allowed and can add to the squad in January before the preliminary round of the 2014 edition of Africa’s flagship club competition takes off the following month.
The Preliminary round of the 2014 CAF Champions League is set for February.
Kotoko’s list is made up of 3 goalkeepers, 7 defenders, 10 midfielders and 4 strikers. Below is the full initial list of 24 expected to be submitted by Kotoko before the November 30 deadline:
Kotoko Africa Squad:
Goalkeepers (3): Soulama Abdoulaye, Isaac Amoako, Joseph Addo
Right back (2): Christopher Bonney, Amos Frimpong
Left back (2): Eric Donkor, Ben Adama Banh
Centre-back (3): Abeiku Ainooson, Kwabena Adusei, Ohene Brenya
Defensive midfielders (2): Michael Akuffo, Issah Yakubu
Wingers (3): Asiedu Attobrah, Richard Mpong, Prince Baffoe
Offensive midfielders (5): Daniel Larbi Koomson, Michael Helegbe, Jordan Opoku, Aminu Mohammed, Yahaya Mohammed
Strikers (4): Bassirou Ouedraogo, Souanon Fadel, Isaac Boakye, Siedu Bancey
