Asante Kotoko head coach Karim Zito has admitted that the absence of striker Kwame Opoku will be a significant setback as the team prepares for their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
Opoku, 27, has been ruled out for six weeks after sustaining an injury during Kotoko’s Ghana Premier League opener against Berekum Chelsea, where he was forced off in the first half. This means he will miss both legs of the preliminary round tie against Nigeria’s Kwara United.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium, Zito acknowledged the impact of losing his lead striker but noted that it has forced him to explore tactical alternatives.
“Seriously, Opoku’s absence will affect me. It gave me another clue: if Opoku is not in the game, what am I going to do to adjust his position? We were able to make changes, and it worked perfectly against Berekum Chelsea,” he said.
“There’s a positive and a negative side to it. His absence has also made me think differently,” Zito added.
The first-leg clash is scheduled for 15:00 GMT.
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