Kofi Owusu Aduonum
6 October 2008
The teeming supporters of Kumasi Asante Kotoko could not hide their disappointment after FIFA referee Codja Coffie Bonaventure of Benin brought the proceedings to an end in the 2-2 drawn Group "B" CAF Confederation Cup home match against Etoile Sportive du Sahel at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday.
It was Kotoko who kicked off after the referees whistle but the visitors quickly took over and nearly took the lead in the fist minute but Sadat Bukari's shot was parried to corner by goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye.
Kotoko came into the picture and took the lead in the seventh minute through Kwabena Yaro who directed home a shot from Eric Bekoe's free-kick outside the penalty box.
Etoil's Ghanaian player Bukari was replaced in the second half by Slim Jedaied who incidentally got the equalizer for his side in the 62nd minute.
Kotoko with their pride at stake took the lead through Eric Bekoe in 73rd minute with Ali Nafkaha Mohammed scoring for his side through a penalty in the 79th minute to send the stadium to dead silence.
After the end of proceedings, the home supporters who blocked the two main roads leading to the stadium laid in wait for which ever vehicle would bring the referee and started throwing stones and other missiles when they saw the Police Riot Van but incidentally the Ghana News Agency (GNA) pick up vehicle carrying reporters including a Graphic reporter had its windscreen smashed.
The reporters however escaped unhurt with only the driver having his finger cut from the broken glass.
After the match which traveled over 100 minutes due to unnecessary delays and stoppages mostly by the visitors, the supporters who felt they had been robbed by the referee for what they claimed were some glaring infringements in the penalty box against their players stayed glued to their seats miserably disappointed.
The officials and players of Etoile also remained at the centre of the turf as they were seemingly terrified after the match following the way they mis-conducted themselves during the match.
In one instance, the Etoile goalkeeper Aymen Methlouthi and some of the players fought the security men when the first penalty of the match was awarded against them in the 73rd minute which resulted in Kotoko's second goal which was converted by Eric Bekoe.
On another occasion Mohammad Sacko who was giving the marching off orders refused to leave the playing field after he was red-carded and this also brought proceedings to a temporary hold-up.
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