The Ghana Premier League champions lost on penalties to their opponents following a 1-1 aggregate scoreline after Sunday’s second leg at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Coach Seydou Zerbo’s side went into the game as favourites, having recorded a narrow 1-0 win against Kadiogo in the first leg in Benin last week Monday.

A late goal by Isaac Oppong secured the victory in Benin, and Kotoko were expected to seal qualification in front of their fans.

However, their advantage from the first leg wasn’t enough as Kotoko shockingly suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to ensure the game was tied on aggregate.

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RC Kadiogo were clinical, converting three of their four penalties, while Kotoko only scored one, as the Burkinabe club advanced to the second round.

The defeat sees Kotoko embarrassingly exit the Champions League in the first preliminary round of the competition.

Kotoko are yet to play in the group phase of the CAF Champions League since 2006.

Kadiogo will now face Congolese club AS Vita Club in the second round of the qualifiers.

The Porcupine Warriors picked a crucial away victory on Monday to brighten their chances of qualifying to the next stage when they travelled to Benin to defeat Kadiogo by 1-0 in the 1st leg of the 1st preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

Youngster Isaac Oppong scored a 92nd minute equaliser to power the Porcupine warriors to the big win in Cotonou.

With the second leg in sight now, the 1-0 result secured has instilled confidence in the numerous Kotoko supporters who didn’t have hope of the team’s qualification to the next round.

In an interview with Nhyira FM in Kumasi, Mrs Evelyn Nsiah Asare expressed fear Kotoko’s home venue for the game could prove to be tricky.

But she underscored the importance of supporters filling the stadium during games.

She is, therefore, urging fans to turn up at Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday to serve as the number 12 man.

“What I am scared of is the fact that the second leg is taking place at our home ground because if you’re not lucky and they [Kadiogo] score one, you could be in trouble.

“So we should be able to fill the park, so then we the supporters will be regarded as the twelfth player on the day to support the players. We congratulate the players, management and the technical team. They have all done extremely well,” she added.

Kotoko has not qualified to the group stage of the top tier of CAF inter-club competition since 2006.

The Porcupine Warriors found a late winner through winger, Isaac Oppong at the General Kerekou Stadium in Cotonou, Benin.

The Burkina Faso side looked the stronger side early into the game as they pressured the Ghanaians but Seydou Zerbo’s side was on hand to hold off the pressure from the opposition.

Zerbo was taking charge of his first official game as the head coach of Kotoko following the resignation of Prosper Ogum Narteh at the end of last season.

Kotoko threatened on several occasions through new signing, Steven Mukwala but the forward was unable to find the back of the net.

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With just minutes away from the full-time whistle, Oppong ensured the Kumasi-based side returned to Ghana with an important win as he found the back of the net with his effort.

The win on Monday means Kotoko command a 1-0 advantage heading into the return leg to be played at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the playing body are expected to arrive in the country later today.

The fixture was initially scheduled for the new Stade de Yamoussoukro in Cote d’Ivoire on Friday, September 9.

Currently, Burkinabé teams are unable to host continental matches on home soil as national facilities are being renovated to meet the required standards set by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

As a result, Kadiogo – as well as AS Douanes who will also be representing Burkina in the Caf Confederation Cup – secured approval to use the new 20,000-capacity Stade de Yamoussoukro which was commissioned in June as home grounds.

But with few days to hosting Kotoko, the Ivorian FA reneged on their approval for the use of the stadium by their cross-border neighbours citing the need for maintenance after the facility hosted the just-ended 7-team Wafu-B Caf Women’s Champions League qualifying competition.

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Following consultations between the clubs through their respective Federations, Caf granted a switch of the venue and date for the match with Kotoko expected to be compensated for some costs incurred as a result of the change.

Stade de l’Amitié Général Mathieu Kérékou in Cotonou recently hosted the CHAN 2022 qualifier between Benin vs Black Galaxies of Ghana.

The Porcupine Warriors – already based in Accra – have now chosen to travel to Cotonou early on an almost 7-hour journey by road on Thursday to finalize preparations for the first leg encounter.

“Our Caf Champions League knockout stage game against RC Kadiogo has been rescheduled to be played in Cotonou (Benin) on Monday, September 12, 2022.

“As part of our preparation for the game, the team will depart this morning to Cotonou,” the Porcupine Warriors announced the new development Thursday.

The second leg has been confirmed for the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi the following Sunday, September 18.