Asante Kotoko Communications Manager Samuel Sarfo Duku has attributed the club's painful 3-1 thrashing by Nkana FC in Zambia to the shambolic defenders.
The Porcupine Warriors suffered a damaging defeat in Kitwe despite Songne Yacouba's artful freekick to end his six matches goal drought.
A shambolic defensive show proved costly for the Reds as they suffered their second defeat but worst outing in the 2018-19 Confederation Cup campaign.
The back four comprising of captain Amos Frimpong who will miss the return encounter in Kumasi after receiving a yellow card, Habib Mohammed who was making his full debut for the Reds, Abdul Ganiyu whose first half hard tackle resulted in a penalty for Nkana and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu continue to dash clear goal scoring opportunities to their opponents in a game Akonnor will soon not forget.
The communications manager, Lawyer Samuel Sarfo Duku believes the defense of Asante Kotoko proved a disappointment after they let in three goals in a game Kotoko could have rescued a draw.
"Things didn't go the way we wanted today, Maxwell Baako and Emmanuel Gyamfi who were to supply balls to Yacouba were pale shadows of themselves today, they weren't themselves today", he told Oyerepa FM.
"Most importantly, our defenders let us down, thank God Felix Anan came to the party today, if not that we would be singing a different song", he concluded.
The two sides will again square off in match-day four at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi in a week time as the race for who qualifies to the last eight gears up.
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