Asante Kotoko will embark on a new campaign in the Ghana Premier League when they travel to the Naa Sheriga Sports Complex to face Karela United on Sunday.
The Porcupine Warriors will be looking to improve on their 6th placed finish last season, where they accumulated 14 wins, 7 draws, and 13 defeats.
Coach Dr. Prosper Nartey Ogum will come under scrutiny after parting ways with 17 players from the previous season. The departures include high-profile players such as former captain Danlad Ibrahim, Kalo Ouattara, Nicholas Osei Bonsu, Isaac Oppong, Augustine Agyapong, Nicholas Mensah, John Tedeku, Sherif Mohammed, George Mfegue, Serge Eric Zeze, and Moise Pouaty.
However, the team has also brought in new players, including Samuel Tenedu, Lord Amoah, Emmanuel Antwi, Joseph Ablorh, Albert Amoah, Abdulrahman Abdulkarim, Ndongani Samba Gilbani, Patrick Asiedu, Saaka Dauda, Esmat Abdulhamid, and Elvis Baffour, as well as Nigerian winger Fernando Wisdom Bassey. The newcomers are expected to inject energy into the team.
Pressure will be high on Asante Kotoko this season, with their fans expecting an improvement on last season’s performance.
The team has a chance to erase the errors that cost them dear last season and judging by their pre-season form, they should be ready to do battle.Karela United finished last season with 12 wins, 10 draws, and 12 defeats.
The Tamale-based team won their first home league match against Berekum Chelsea with a 3-1 score line and were among the best performers at home last season, securing 34 points.The Pride and Passion have played Asante Kotoko four times at home in the league since the 2020/21 season, with Karela United winning two games, drawing one, and losing one.
In the 2020/21 season, Karela United suffered a 0-2 defeat to Asante Kotoko, drew goalless in the 2021/22 season, won 1-0 in the 2022/23 season, and repeated the same score line in the 2023/24 season.Karela United have brought in new legs while sticking with the core of the group that survived the drop on the final day of the Premier League.
The likes of Benjamin York, Mohammed Abubakar, Fidaus Mohammed, Alhassan Ali, Najib Fuseini Ibrahim, Awudu Mohammed, Faisal Gariba, Victor Aidoo, Abdul Basit, Solomon Aboagye, Emmanuel Anaful, Samuel Asiedu, and Giyasu Ibrahim are all fit and ready for the game on Sunday.