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Asante Kotoko failed to secure a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup group stages after sharing spoils with ES Setif in Algeria on Sunday.
The Porcupine Warriors lost the first leg 1:2 to ES Setif at the Accra Sports Stadium and were hopeful of overturning the deficit at the May 8, 1945 Stadium in Setif today but only settled for a goalless draw.[ads2]
It was a game Asante Kotoko went into with much determination after painfully losing the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium last weekend.
Though it was going to be a tough task for the Porcupine Warriors, coach Abdulai Gazalle and his charges went into the game with a higher spirit.[ads3]
The Ghana Premier League heavyweight started the game very well, showing no sign as being the visitors, dispersed the host team’s defence bout couldn’t find the back of the net.
Brazilian midfielder, Fabio Gama was very impressive and delight to watch as well as Abdul Latif Anabila who ensured Asante Kotoko outclassed the ES Setif midfield.
It was a first half full of end to end action and higher intensity as both clubs showed glimpses of wanting to get the opener but all to no avail.
The intensity got tripled in the second half with Asante Kotoko bossing the game for a while before ES Setif took over and later the visitors came in stronger to at least break the virginity of the epic encounter but all efforts were fruitless.[ads4]
ES Setif nearly had the opener in the dying embers of the game but Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Razak Abalora was right there to save the situation.
At the end of the ninety plus additional three minutes, the game ended goalless which means ES Setif have qualified to the group stages at the expense of Asante Kotoko with a 2:1 aggregate.[ads5]