A board member of Asante Kotoko, Yaw Adu, is confident Kotoko playing international pre-season games in Sudan will have a positive effect on the team during the 2022/23 CAF Champions League.

The Porcupine Warriors have been in Sudan for the past week preparing for the upcoming football season and have scheduled four friendly matches before they end their tour.

The team has played three friendly matches so far in the North East African country, losing back-to-back to Al Hilal on 7-0 aggregate before recording their third defeat to Tanzanian giants, Simba SC, 4-2.

Kotoko opted for a trip to Sudan after cancelling its European tour in Turkey due to visa application issues.

Before that, the Reds had already boycotted the GHALCA Top Six tournament in Accra, raising concerns the defending league champions may not have adequate preparations before the commencement of the new season.

But, Mr Adu, in an interview with Luv Sports, disagreed with that assertion. He says playing international matches during pre-season is the best strategy for the club to be familiar with their peers on the continent.

“They are over there [in Sudan] playing friendlies at [an] international level, so [boycotting the G6 tournment] will not affect them," he noted.

“Seriously, playing local and playing international is different because they are going to meet the Al Ahlys during the CAF competitions.

“So, if they are going international, that’s the best way,” he said.

Kotoko will play Rail Club de Kadiogo of Burkina Faso in the CAF Champions League preliminary round.