Kumasi Asante Kotoko's poor record away from home in African club competitions continued after they went down 0-2 to Etoile du Sahel in the opening group game of the 2008 CAF Confederations Cup.

The Porcupine Warriors who have not won on the road in two years are keen to impress in Africa this year but will need to sort out their away form quickly if they are to even emerge from a group that has three North African opponents.

Kotoko have disciplinary issues to sort out too after Osei Kwame, one of their players was sent off making it two dismissals in two games on the road for them.

Etoile, the 2007 CAF Champions League winners were efficient in the execution of their game plan and completely dominated the first half before taking their foot off the second and playing remarkably on the break.

The first twelve minutes were particularly difficult for the Porcupine Warriors. Etoile started like a high speed train and won four corner kicks within that period of absolute dominance. And to their delight, the fourth of those led to the opening goal.

Mohammed Nafta flighted the corner in on twelve minutes and the Nigerian Emeka Okpara was on hand to head in the opener for the Tunisians.

Kotoko begun to come into the game after that goal but their best efforts were restricted to long ranger efforts and spells of possession that came to nothing.

They started the second half brightly though. Kwabene Yaro fired a shot over the bar from the edge of the boss four minutes into the second half as Kotoko looked to claw their way back. But it was the same old problem of plenty possession, no punch upfront.

They were made to pay on 69 minutes when Emeka headed in another cross beyond Soulama Abdoulaye to make it two for the home side.

There were more problems for Kotoko five minutes later when Osei Kwame was red carded for a second bookable offence.

Kotoko will do much better at home in the group stages of the Confederations Cup but their form on the road on the evidence of this display might undermine their semi final aspirations.