Come February 2018, Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko and Congo’s Cara Brazzaville will reignite an old rivalry on the continent.
They face off in their third meeting in a Caf-organized competition. The previous times have been in the African Cup of Champion Clubs which is now known as the Caf Champions League.
They first met at the second round stage of the African Cup of Champion Clubs in 1976. Kotoko triumphed over two legs.
When the Kumasi-based side overcame their Brazzaville counterparts, the back page of Ghana’s national newspaper, the Daily Graphic captured the match report under the headline:
FABULOUS – ON ON THEY GO. They stop Cara
However, Kotoko could not go the full length of the competition as they got booted out at the quarterfinals stage by ASEC Mimosas.
Seven years later, they met again at the same second round stage. Again, the Porcupine Warriors emerged victors. Kotoko progressed in the competition and ended up winning the ultimate in 1983, their second and last time of winning a continental trophy.
The previous meetings between these two sides have always been close contests. In the 1976 meeting, Kotoko won via the away goal rule after a 2-2 stalemate. It also ended 4-3 on aggregate in the 1983 clash. Kotoko had to overturn a 3-2 deficit by winning 4-3 in Kumasi.
Asante Kotoko will host the first leg of the third meeting with Cara Brazzaville at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Sunday, February 11 2018. The second leg is to be confirmed for either February 20 or 21.
About Cara Brazzaville
- Full name, Club Athlétique Renaissance Aiglon de Brazzaville.
- Just like the Ghanaian giants, they were also formed in 1935 and also don the red jersey as home colours.
- Cara Brazzaville have won the Congolese league title nine times (1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1984, 2008) and the FA Cup, thrice (1981, 1986, 1992)
- Their home ground is the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat in Congolese capital Brazzaville.
- Cara were African champions in 1974. They defeated El Mahalla in the final of the African Cup of Champion Clubs.
- Currently, they have five players – ITOUA Béranger, KIBAMBA Baron, LOUSSOUKOU-NGOUALA Amour Junior, MBOUNGOU Vieljeux Prestige and ONDAMA NGUESSI Nicolas in Congo’s provisional squad to the 2018 Chan Tournament in Morocco.
