On Sunday, September 18th, 2022, Kumasi Asante lost in penalty shootouts to Burkina Faso champions, Rail Club du Kadiogo, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Dramane Kambou’s goal from a deflected free kick in the 16th minute tied the game 1-1 on aggregate, but Babayouré Aboubacar Sawadogo, the goalie, rose to the occasion and blocked off three penalty attempts at Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The observant editors at www.atspo.com have reflected on a declaration made by new coach Seydou Zerbo during a pre-match press conference on Friday, September 16th, 2022, before the defeat last Sunday.
He said in a press conference, “I know Kadiogo very well; their system of play is always to attack; however, we need to be focused throughout the ninety minutes. It’s a big game, and the difference will be the supporters. So, if they’ve got the team at heart, then they should [come] on Sunday.”
Seydou Zerbo does not know Rail Club du Kadiogo’s team very well, based on all signs and tactical assessments; nonetheless, having previously managed the team from his own country, Burkina Faso, Zerbo should have proven beyond imagination.
The manager of the away team used a strategy that allowed him to contain the most dangerous and skilled player, Isaac Oppong Neymar, who was identified by Ousmane Coulibaly’s tactical knowledge.
With the coach’s past CHAN experience, it was projected that he might qualify at home with a goal advantage from an away game, and the squad played in front of their large attendance at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The supporters were desperate for an equaliser last Sunday after their club suffered an early goal at home, but after multiple tactical adjustments by the coach, the squad was unable to score a goal that could have sealed qualification.
So, in contrast, it can be concluded that the new gaffer, Seydou Zerbo, did not know much about the RC Kadiogo side, as he stated in the press conference, he should have displayed much tactical information against RC Kadiogo, assuming he knew much about them as quoted.
