Kickoff (Cape Town)
24 July 2008
Kumasi Asante Kotoko are preparing for their Confederations Cup must-win game without three of their key players but are still confident they can overcome Libya's Al-Ittihad and make the group stages of the competition.
Striker and inspiration Emmanuel Osei Kufour will be absent for Sunday's game after picking up a red card in the first leg.
But Sunday will be different. It is a game we will win at all cost
Impressive fullbacks Harrision Afful and Samuel Inkoom are also suspended but assistant coach Johnson Smith, who will take charge of the game, insists that will not derail his team's ambitions.
"It is unfortunate because those players add a lot to the team but it does not mean nothing can be done in their absence. We have a team and this is the right time to give other players the chance."
The Confederations Cup has become priority for Kotoko after their recent failures in continental competitions but they must first overcome a 1-2 deficit to make the group stage.
And Smith is in no doubt they would. "We planned well for that first leg in Tripoli but things went wrong and we did not have control. But Sunday will be different. It is a game we will win at all cost."
Kotoko prepared for Sunday's game with a 2-1 win over First Division side Gomoa Feyernoord. A similar result on Sunday might not be enough for them.
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