Kotoko coach CK AkonnorGoal Ghana

Five things Charles Akonnor must do to help Kotoko overcome Medeama in Ghana Special Competition

Without a doubt, all attention will be at Kumasi's Baba Yara Sports Stadium, where Asante Kotoko will host Medeama in Ghana Special Competition on Sunday.

A top-of-the-table showdown, only one point separates the two sides on Zone A's table, with Medeama currently holding the better position. 

As the countdown continues, Goal looks at how the Porcupines could emerge tops in the group stage penultimate matchday fixture. 

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Ask more of full-backs 

One of Kotoko's biggest worries this season has got to do with their full-backs. While the likes of Amos Frimpong, Evans Owusu and Augustine Sefah have been criticised for their lack of consistency in producing top performances, there have been even more worries about their contribution in attack. Not only are they unable to add firepower upfront with overlapping runs and deliveries, their sloppy defending also expose their back half to the opposition's wingers. This is surely a situation worth addressing. 

Solve midfield conundrum 

In the absence of injured Richard Senanu, who was, until his problem, the main midfield partner of Kwame Bonsu, coach Charles Akonnor has struggled to find a new perfect pair to marshal his midfield. A series of combinations involving Bonsu, Prince Acquah, veteran Jordan Opoku and even centre-back Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu have failed to impress. Coming up against the likes of Justice Blay and Joseph Tetteh Zutah, Akonnor can't fail in finding a workable temporary solution if he doesn't want Medeama to control the game. 

Kotoko

Put attack in order

In attack, the Porcupines have struggled for goals too, with attacking midfielder Abdul Fatawu Safiu now forced to take up the lead striker's responsibilities. He may have done well by hitting seven goals so far, but there's certainly more work to be done. Winger Emmanuel Gyamfi has also struggled to reproduce his form of the Caf Confederation Cup campaign. Thankfully, the return of talisman Songne Yacouba, who has been out injured since March, gives Akonnor another option. 

Take out the danger men

Akonnor will have to find a way to neutralise the likes of Zutah, Blay Kalibo Dedy Toussaint and Kwame Boateng if he hopes to win all three points on Sunday. While Zutah and Blay have been solid in midfield, Toussaint and Boateng have been awesome in leading the Mauves attack so far. Keeping these men in check will be key to Kotoko's success. 

Medeama


Win tactical battle 

In the dugouts, there will also be a fierce tactical war between Akonnor and Medeama boss Samuel Boadu, who has been hailed by a section of the football family as Ghana's current most-sound coaching brain. To come up tops, Akonnor will have to, among other points already mentioned in this piece, address his side's slow transition when building attacks as well as his outfit's seeming drop in energy levels in second half.

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