Cameroonian striker Franck Mbella Etouga was the hero of the day as his penalty sealed three points for Asante Kotoko against arch-rivals Hearts of Oak in the Ghana Premier League.
Cameroonian striker Franck Mbella Etouga was the hero of the day as his penalty sealed three points for Asante Kotoko against arch-rivals Hearts of Oak in the Ghana Premier League.
Sharks, who came into the game on the back of three straight defeats, on the other hand, have overtaken Legon Cities to claim the 13th spot.
Porcupines coach Abdul Gazale kept faith with striker Kwame Opoku despite the attacker’s costly missed penalty in Sunday’s showdown with Hearts. Brazilian playmaker Fabio Gama Dos Santos was also in the line-up.
In the early moments of the game, Emmanuel Sarkodie’s shot from the edge of the box flew over the bar, similar to Gama’s 14th minute attempt.
In the 22nd minute, Opoku almost broke the deadlock when he intercepted a back pass but after rounding the goalkeeper, his goal-bound shot was timely cleared off the line.
It is unclear if the tie will be rescheduled to Friday as was likely to have been done under ordinary circumstances, considering Kotoko will then only have two days to prepare for their upcoming showdown with archrivals Hearts of Oak on Sunday. Our game this evening has been called off due to the rains. We await further directives from the Ghana Football Association, Kotoko have announced on social media.
Our game this evening has been called off due to the rains. We await further directives from the Ghana Football Association. #AKSC#AriseLetsBuild#WeMovepic.twitter.com/Ohdyh94xbR Asante Kotoko SC (@AsanteKotoko SC) February 25, 2021
“I faced the same interference which Papic faced at Hearts with player’s selection,” 1978 Africa Cup of Nations winner Polo, who coached Hearts between 2013 and 2014, told Ashh FM. The direction of Hearts of Oak isn t the best and it can t be the best in any way, it s not done in Europe - how the management and the board run the team in Ghana. I m ready for the Hearts of Oak job on one condition, that is, I will bring in my own assistant manager.
The recent stint was Papic s second spell with Hearts of Oak, having first coached the club in 2009.