Ghana Premier League side Asante Kotoko were kicked out of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Zambian side ZESCO United.

A goal each from Jesse Were and Kondwani Mtongo could only be reduced by Stephen Nyarko’s solitary strike for the Porcupine Warriors, bundling them out of the competition.

In a game Kotoko needed a win at all cost to qualify, Coach CK Akonnor’s side looked inconsistent in their play from start to finish.

The Porcupine Warriors were shot in the lead a minute after the break by substitute Stephen Nyarko but were shot down by ZESCO who responded with fire.

Jesse Were knocked home a simple finish after a cross in the Kotoko goal area came calling in the 53rd minute.

Kondwani Mtonga also capitalised on a similar attack to grab the winner for ZESCO three minutes after Were had restored parity.

With Sudanese Al Hilal slaughtering another Zambian side Nkana FC in Omdurman, all Kotoko needed was a win to advance to the quarter final stage of the competition but missed it.

It was the visitors who came close to scoring after nine minutes but new signing Dany Teguy Zabo fluffed his lines after Emmanuel Gyamfi floated in a ball from the right.

Four minutes later, Zabo, after beautifully trapping the ball, shockingly shot wide after a mistake clearance by the Zesco United defender Marcel Kalonda.

Zesco United came into the picture with series of long-range attempts and on one of those dangerous occasions, Kotoko allowed John Ching’andu space to strike a missile but his effort was always rising.

In the 25th minute, goalkeeper Banda came to the rescue of Zesco as he parried out Emmanuel Gyamfi curled effort from inside the box.

The first half of the game was left barren after both sides failed to break the virginity of the game.

The second half saw a charged Kotoko side in the early minutes of the return but ZESCO doubled their efforts to win the day for their counterparts Nkana FC to steal a ticket to the quarter final despite losing to Al Hilal in Sudan.

Akonnor threw caution to the wind after ZESCO took the lead by throwing on all his three attackers, bringing on Obed Owusu and Frederick Boateng to augment Teguy Zabo but it couldn’t work out.

Following the defeat, the Porcupine Warriors failed to even pick a point in all their away games.

Al Hilal topped the Group with 11 points and were joined by Nkana FC who had 9 points despite losing in Omdurman.