Bofoakwa Tano booked their return to the Ghana Premier League with a 7-6 win in a penalty shoot-out over Techiman Eleven Wonders following a 1-1 draw in the Division One League Zone One playoff final at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper Emmanuel Kobi was the hero for the Sunyani-based club in the shootout, saving from Eleven Wonders captain in sudden death to secure a historic win for his side.
Bofoakwa Tano took the lead in the first half with Leslie Aryeetey’s 7th minute goal from the spot and looked set to wrap up with victory until Zackaria Osman’s 47th minute strike cancelled their lead.
Few minutes after Eleven Wonders equalizer in the second half, Bofoakwa Tano pulled their socks up and the momentum shifted back. They had and excellent second half but saw two goals ruled out for offside.
After a 1-1 draw in normal time, both sides failed to score in extra time as the game travelled into penalty shootouts after 120 minutes at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The extra 30 minutes did not see any goal. The tie was decided in a tensed penalty shootouts, where Bofoakwa Tano held their nerve to win the game.
The Sunyani-based club will now play in the BetPawa Premier League next season alongside Zone 2 and Zone 3 champions, Nations FC and Hearts of Lions.
Their qualification denied Eleven Wonders a place in the Ghanaian top-flight after one year.
Bofoakwa Tano, who suffered relegation after 2006/7 campaign were in a two horse race with Young Apostles for a place in the championship but a spirited second round performance led them to a 15 point lead in Zone One B – leading to the qualification slot four weeks ago as they won the Zone with 63 points.
They are known for their rich history on the domestic scene – having won the SWAG Cup in 1975 and produced a number of household names like Kwesi Owusu (a 1978 Africa Cup of Nations winner), Osei Boateng, Joseph Derchie, Dan Owusu (1974, 1975, 1976 League top scorer) and Opoku Sampene who later played for Asante Kotoko.
Techiman Eleven Wonders also beat off competition from Debibi United and Steadfast FC as they amassed 52 points from 28 matches – five points ahead of Debibi United to win the Zone.
Wonders grabbed 10 wins, 4 defeats and 10 draws to finish on top of Zone One A.
