Match: Asante Kotoko v Wydad AC Venue: Accra Sports Stadium Date: 19th October 2025 Kick-off time: 3 pm TV schedule: live on Max TV, GTV
Match: Asante Kotoko v Wydad AC
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium
Date: 19th October 2025
Kick-off time: 3 pm
TV schedule: live on Max TV, GTV
Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco and Asante Kotoko still have a score to settle after the Moroccans broke the hearts of over 60,000 fans in 2002, during the finals of the CAF Winners Cup at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
The first leg ended 1-0 in Casablanca, and with all eyes on Kotoko in the second leg, the Moroccans got the all-important away goal in the 2-1 defeat to win on away goal rule.
It remains one of the saddest days since the turn of the 21st Century for the Porcupine Warriors.
Two years later, in the maiden edition of the CAF Confederation Cup play-off, the Porcupine Warriors avenged with a 3-1 aggregate win, following a 2-0 victory in the first leg at Oseikrom and a 1-1 draw in Morocco to progress to the group stage.
The Moroccans were disappointed for failing to make it to the group stage and now have their eyes and minds firmly fixed on avenging that defeat.
The play-off of the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup first leg is scheduled to be played at Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Asante Kotoko
Asante Kotoko defeated Nigerian side Kwara United home and away in the preliminary stage to set up a huge clash against the Moroccan giants.
The Porcupine Warriors are undefeated in the new season and are fully confident of visiting Casablanca with a win in the first leg.
Abdul Karim Zito’s side has won two and drawn two in the four games played in the Ghana Premier League. They sit in 8th position, having won eight points from a possible 12, albeit they have a game in hand.
Head coach Abdul Karim-Zito, the former right-back, was part of Kotoko’s team that won the CAF Champions League in 1983 after losing in the 1982 finals.
The veteran tactician is Ghana’s best coach in the domestic scene after guiding the minnows Dreams FC to the semi-finals of the 2023-24 Caf Confederation Cup, where they lost to eventual winners Zamalek 3-0 on aggregate.
Asante Kotoko will rely on his experience in the fixture.
Albert Amoah, who undoubtedly is the club’s best forward, remains unknown whether he will be fit enough to face WAC.
In his absence, Amoh, Donzo and Acquah are expected to step up to deliver for Kotoko.
Wydad Athletic Club
Wydad surprisingly missed the entire continental football in the 2024-25 season after failing to qualify in the previous season.
It was the first time in over a decade that the club had failed to play in an African club competition.
South African head coach Rulani Mokwena helped return them to the top of the men’s table but mutually agreed to vacate his role when the season ended.
Mohamed Amine Benhachem, formerly the sporting director of the club, was employed to lead the team to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup played in the USA, where they tested themselves against Manchester City, Juventus and Al Ain.
Interestingly, Benhachem was part of the 2002 Wydad squad that lifted the African Cup Winners’ Cup trophy in Kumasi.
It looks clear that Wydad are finding their rhythm under the 50-year-old tactician following a good start to the Moroccan Botola PRO League.
The Red Devils have won three games and drawn one in the opening four games of the new season, helping them to occupy the top slot with stars like Thembinkosi Lorch, the veteran Amrabat, Oussama Zemraoui, Hamza Hanouri and Stephane Aziz Ki beginning to understand each other in the attack.
Joseph Bakasu, the 22-year-old Congolese midfielder, is becoming the main man in their midfield and is the favourite of the coach since joining from Maniema of D.R. Congo in the summer transfer window.
Right-back Moufid Mohammed and goalkeeper Mehdi Benab are fantastic players who make Wydad Club look so solid at the back.
H2H in Confederation Cup
2004
First leg: Kotoko 2-0 WAC
Second leg: Wydad 1-1 Kotoko
Probable lineup
Kotoko
4-3-3
Camara (GK)
Asiedu, Lord Amoah, Samba O’neil, Ablor (DF)
Gyau, Adabo, Fusseini (MF)
Amoh, Amoah, Acquah (FW)
Wydad
4-2-3-1
Benabid (GK)
Moufid, Abdoufath, Meijers, Boucheta (DF)
Bakasu, Lamirat (DM)
Zamraoui, Amrabat, Hannouri (AMF)
Lorch (ST)
Prediction
Kotoko 1-1 Wydad Athletic Club
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