Seydou Zerbo reacts to absence of Franck Mbella ahead of the RC Kadiogo clash in the Caf Champions League

Coach Seydou Zerbo has insisted that he has equally good players to make up for the void Franck Mbella’s absence will create in the Asante Kotoko team ahead of their Caf Champions League preliminary round second leg tie against RC Kadiogo.

Etouga was the Porcupine Warrriors’ top scorer last season, scoring 21 goals in his debut season and winning the Ghana Premier League with Kotoko.

However, he was not part of the club’s pre-season tour of Sudan. The Cameroonian import was not part of the team that travelled to Benin to beat RC Kadiogo 1-0 in the first leg of their Caf Champions League preliminary round tie on Monday.

According to reports, he wants out and has refused to train in a bid to force his way out of the club.

Reacting to how his team would cope without him in Sunday’s clash, the Burkinabe coach threw his weight behind his players to fill Mbella’s void.

“Asante Kotoko is a big club and if Mbella isn’t around,that doesn’t mean the club won’t be there. I heard he’s an important player but I didn’t work with him, but I believe those who won in Benin can equally step up for the club, ” Zerbo said at a presser on Friday morning.

At the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kotoko will host Kadiogo for the second leg tie of the Caf Champions League preliminary round.