Coton Sport want Kotoko evicted from CAF Confed Cup for technical violation

Will Asante Kotoko be thrown out of the CAF Confederation Cup on a technicality? That will be the case if Coton Sport win a petition sent to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The Cameroonian side have sent a 7-paged document to the continental football governing body as they seek to have Kotoko evicted from the competition based on alleged infractions from midfielder Kwame Bonsu.

The Kumasi side beat Coton Sport 2-1 on Sunday (5-3 on aggregate) to make the group stages of the Confederations Cup. However, Coton Sport have drawn the attention of CAF to the fact that Bonsu used different jersey numbers over the two legs.

The Cameroonian club alleges that Bonsu’s name was registered with jersey number 8 in the first leg in Garoua. They then show documents that show that Kotoko had the same player with jersey number 3 in the return leg.

If this is true, it would be a violation of article 6.5 of the CAF Confederation Cup rules.

On their part, Kotoko have rubbished the allegation, taking to Twitter, where the club’s account posted an image of the 24-year old in jersey number 3, from the first leg in Garoua.

“Coton Sport are complaining about a number of a jersey of a player and they want to bring it to the attention of CAF,” said General Secretary of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Benjamin Didier Banlock.

Speaking to Oyerepa FM, Banlock, who was a co-signatory to the petition said he signed the document simply out of duty. “As for me, it doesn’t change the fact that we saw the game and it ends there for me.”

“Honestly, you know there are some part of your job you do without being happy to do but it’s your duty. It’s a very tricky one so let’s wait for CAF, they are the ones deciding but I’m not expecting any magic from CAF.”

Kotoko CEO George Amoako flatly refused the allegations, dismissing it as a ploy to distract the team. “We went through the proper processes in securing the release and registration of the player and therefore, he is eligible to play for us in all officially sanctioned matches.”

Kotoko are looking ahead to their first group stage action in 11 years after being grouped in Group C with the Zambian sides, Zesco United and Nkana FC, as well as Sudanese side Al Hilal Omdurman.

Source: Myjoyonline