Al-Hilal foresee a tougher task against Kotoko

Accra, July 26, GNA - Al- Hilal football club of Sudan after disposing of Ghanaian side, Liberty Professionals last Sunday, say they foresee a more difficult task ahead of them in the league stage as they play Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

Al-Hilal, Kotoko, Petro Athletico of Angola and Enugu Rangers of Nigeria are paired in Group A of the league zone of the Confederation's Cup Competition after the preliminaries were cleared over the weekend. Speaking to the GNA Sports in an interview after the match, a member of the Sudanese delegation, Dr Abhas Ardel- Karim said playing against Kotoko in the league would be more difficult since they are more experienced and have a rich track record on the continental level.

Dr Ardel-Karim said the performance of Kotoko in the 2002 African Cup Winners Cup competition as well as their recent show against Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco gives credence to the fact that the Kumasi-based side is still a force to reckon with on the continent.

He said they would need extra effort to enable them scale past Kotoko in the two leg affair in the league zone.

"In spite of these factors, we are not perturbed because with the needed preparation, we are capable of passing the test against the Ghanaian side." Dr Ardel-Karim stated.

Commenting on their match against Liberty, the Sudanese official expressed surprise at the performance of the Ghanaian team, saying they performed below expectation in Accra.

He said the Liberty side they saw in Sudan was different from the one they saw in Accra, but added that his side also failed to live up to expectation and were saved by the brilliance of their goalkeeper in the game.

The Sudanese who lost the second leg 1-0 eventually won the match when they they scored two of their penalty kicks while Liberty missed four of their kicks to push them out of the league zone.