Ghana’s only survivors in Africa club competition Kumasi Asante Kotoko will be hoping to resurrect their chances of going beyond the group stages of this year's Confederation Cup when they play host to their Sudanese counterparts EI Merreikh at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday. After stumbling in the group opener against Etotle-du Sahel in Tunisia, the Porcupine Warriors need a win at all cost to keep alive their dream of making the final and probably lifting the cup. So intense is this feeling that the team has quickly put behind them their midweek defeat at the hands of Liberty Professionals in the on-going Top Four. Soon after the game on Wednesday coach of the side, Barshiru Hayford stated that they have put behind them the defeat to Liberty and are focused on Sunday's game, adding that "we will be approaching this game with forceful attitude, ready to work harder than the opposition; we have played them before and we know their style of play and what they are capable of doing on any given day, but trust Kotoko to scale over EI- Merreik..." Kotoko’s game will not come that easy knowing they will be playing against a side that is leading Group B by virtue of their conquest of Algerian outfit, JS Kabylie on home soil 3-1. El- Merreikh, last year's beaten finalist in the Confederation Cup are hoping to go a step further this time round but are very cautious of the tie against the Ghanaian champions who coach of the side has praised for their rapid improvement since playing them in less than a year. The El- Merreikh side who breezed into town on Tuesday to acclimatize with the weather has however promised hell for the Asanteman club. Kotoko’s game plan will be boosted by the arrival of their inspirationa1 captain and midfield gem Emmanuel Osei Kuffour whose influence in the midfield was badly missed in the group opener in Tunisia; so would be dependable right full back Samuel Inkoom, both of whom were suspended for the game. Director of operations for Kotoko, Jerry Asare has asked fans of the club to put their defeat to Liberty behind them and troop to the Baba Yara Stadium in their numbers to cheer the team to total victory, adding that all will see a completely different Kumasi Asante Kotoko side who will be seeking to keep intact their unbeaten home record at the Baba Yara Stadium. Source: The Ghanaian Times