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The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association has slapped a two-match ban on Bechem United defender Samuel Osei Kuffour for stamping on Franck Etouga.

Osei Kuffour is charged with a breach of Article 34(6)(d) of the GFA Premier League Regulations, 2019 after Kotoko’s matchday 19 away game at Bechem.

According to the charge sheet, Samuel Osei Kuffour did intentionally kicked Frank Thierry Etouga Mbella in an off-ball situation, an action which in the opinion on the association is an improper behavior and likely to bring the game into disrepute.

The GFA has now announced the decision of the Disciplinary Committee after the hearing, along with the accompanying sanctions.

Kuffour has, according to the ruling by the DC, “is found Guilty of the charge by the Committee” and has been handed a fine of GHC1,000, a two-match ban and a caution against future behavour.

Asante Kotoko SC playing body has received a massive windfall in their bank accounts after their triumphant game against Hearts of Oak SC in the nation’s flagship domestic fixture.

The PorcupineSs defied the odds to inflict a 1-0 defeat on their arch rivals and are now leading the rivals 16 points on the league log.

However, the Board of Directors of the club have dashed the players ₵100,000 for their heroics at the Baba Yara Stadium thanks to Franck Etouga’s spot kick.

It was the GPL leading scorer’s 16th goal of the campaign, highlighting his prolific first season with the club.

The Porcupines, meanwhile, sit eight points clear at the top of the table, firmly on course to win their first league title since 2014.

Board member of Accra Hearts of Oak, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe has aimed a dig at Asante Kotoko midfielder Fabio Gama after his penalty incident against the Phobians in the Super Clash.

The two rivals clashed in a fierce game that had very little ramifications on the league title as Hearts of Oak were 4th heading into the clash with Kotoko first with a 13 point gap before the game.

The Porcupines were the better team on the balance of play and perhaps should have won more than just the solitary goal.

But the game was not without the usual controversy as most Hearts fans still insist the penalty awarded Kotoko for the foul on Fabio Gama by Abdul Aziz Nurudeen was non existent which was converted by Franck Etouga.

The goal proved decisive as the game ended 1-0 with the 16th-minute penalty awarded to Fabio Gama becoming the talking point.

“Brazilian players create problems when there are no problem and that’s exactly what he [Fabio Gama] did yesterday. They are experts in those things,” Nyaho Tamakloe told Joy Sports in Accra after the game.

Meanwhile, Fabio Gama in response to the incident has said that he used his intelligence to win the spot kick for his side.

Hearts of Oak will now turn their attention to the MTN FA Cup as they play Skyy FC in the quarter final on Sunday.

Ghana Premier League club, King Faisal is reportedly considering the appointment of Ignatius Osei-Fosu as a replacement for Nurudeen Amadu, who resigned from his post on Sunday after supervising six consecutive league defeats since March 6.

Osei-Fosu, a CAF License A holder has been without a coaching job since November 2021, when he was fired by Medeama SC after recording only 2 points in 3 league games.

On Sunday night, the former Techiman Eleven Wonders Coach hinted on his official Twitter page, “I’m coming like Kakai,” a statement viewed by fans as a hint in relation to the reports of his imminent arrival at the Kumasi based club.

Interim Coach Abubakar Fatawu is expected to be on the bench when King Faisal visit the Nana Agyemang Badu Park in Dormaa to face Aduana Stars in the MTN FA Cup quarter final clash on Wednesday.

King Faisal now occupies the 13th spot on the Ghana Premier League table with 29 points after recording 9 wins, 2 draws and 13 defeats in 24 games.

Franck Mbella Etouga found the net from the penalty spot in the 17^th minute and his goal ended up being the difference-maker for the Porcupine Warriors.

Hearts huffed and puffed especially in the second half but in the end failed to find the equalizer, moving Prosper Narteh’s side one step closer to the title.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

Fan attendance must improve

This game is considered the biggest game on the local terrain. Hence, the stadium was expected to be full as Kotoko and Hearts battled each other. Yet, there were sections of empty seats around the stadium which was disappointing. Some blame can be shifted to the Ghana Football Association since they rescheduled the match to the same time as other games in the Ghana Premier League and beyond. But, the process starts with the fans. Ghana v Nigeria in Kumasi provided a more energetic atmosphere and this has to reflect in the Ghana Premier League too.

Kotoko make a stronger case for the trophy

Asante Kotoko struggled in their earlier tests against the Phobians this season, drawing one and losing one. Going into the game, there were also some injury concerns highlighted by Prosper Narteh Ogum and a win looked bleak. But, the players stepped up in this one, getting an early goal and keeping Samuel Boadu’s side at bay for the entirety of the game. Some stakeholders have questioned Kotoko’s ability to get it done against the big teams. This game could not be any bigger and they have silenced the critics. If they maintain their form, the Ghana Premier League trophy will certainly be theirs.  

Franck Mbella Etouga has to be kept at all costs

Going into the game, Mbella was criticized for not showing up against the Phobians in the last two games, and rightly so. The Cameroonian struggled to get touches and make any impact previously. In this game, however, with the support of Fabio Gama, the league’s top scorer was more involved albeit he made some mistakes and capped it off with his 16^th goal of the campaign from the spot. He has been linked with some clubs abroad and the suitors will not stop. It is up to the management of Kotoko to find ways of keeping him, especially if they aim to compete in Africa’s continental competitions.

Awako with another disappearing act

Gladson Awako was brought on by Hearts of Oak with the aim of improving the overall quality of the team this season. In the previous campaign, the former Great Olympics star was sensational and was arguably one of the best players the local scene could offer. This season has been a disappointment overall for the 31-year-old, showing only flashes of that heralded quality he possesses. He was totally marked out against Kotoko and has to step up in future games.

Hearts have work to do for next season

With the negative result for Samuel Boadu and his men, they can kiss the league trophy goodbye as they are too far behind other competitors, especially Asante Kotoko who are now 16 points ahead with just 10 games to go. The team have generally struggled to get the results this season which cost them a chance to compete on the continental stage and the local one. They now have to make early preparations for the following season and come back stronger.

By: Bill Eshun|3Sports|Ghana

Asante Kotoko have extended their gap over Hearts of Oak to 16 points after clinching a 1-0 victory at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.

Franck Mbella Etouga found the net from the penalty spot in the 17^th minute and his goal ended up being the difference-maker for the Porcupine Warriors.

Hearts huffed and puffed especially in the second half but in the end failed to find the equalizer, moving Prosper Narteh’s side one step closer to the title.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

Fan attendance must improve

This game is considered the biggest game on the local terrain. Hence, the stadium was expected to be full as Kotoko and Hearts battled each other. Yet, there were sections of empty seats around the stadium which was disappointing. Some blame can be shifted to the Ghana Football Association since they rescheduled the match to the same time as other games in the Ghana Premier League and beyond. But, the process starts with the fans. Ghana v Nigeria in Kumasi provided a more energetic atmosphere and this has to reflect in the Ghana Premier League too.

Kotoko make a stronger case for the trophy

Asante Kotoko struggled in their earlier tests against the Phobians this season, drawing one and losing one. Going into the game, there were also some injury concerns highlighted by Prosper Narteh Ogum and a win looked bleak. But, the players stepped up in this one, getting an early goal and keeping Samuel Boadu’s side at bay for the entirety of the game. Some stakeholders have questioned Kotoko’s ability to get it done against the big teams. This game could not be any bigger and they have silenced the critics. If they maintain their form, the Ghana Premier League trophy will certainly be theirs.  

Franck Mbella Etouga has to be kept at all costs

Going into the game, Mbella was criticized for not showing up against the Phobians in the last two games, and rightly so. The Cameroonian struggled to get touches and make any impact previously. In this game, however, with the support of Fabio Gama, the league’s top scorer was more involved albeit he made some mistakes and capped it off with his 16^th goal of the campaign from the spot. He has been linked with some clubs abroad and the suitors will not stop. It is up to the management of Kotoko to find ways of keeping him, especially if they aim to compete in Africa’s continental competitions.

Awako with another disappearing act

Gladson Awako was brought on by Hearts of Oak with the aim of improving the overall quality of the team this season. In the previous campaign, the former Great Olympics star was sensational and was arguably one of the best players the local scene could offer. This season has been a disappointment overall for the 31-year-old, showing only flashes of that heralded quality he possesses. He was totally marked out against Kotoko and has to step up in future games.

Hearts have work to do for next season

With the negative result for Samuel Boadu and his men, they can kiss the league trophy goodbye as they are too far behind other competitors, especially Asante Kotoko who are now 16 points ahead with just 10 games to go. The team have generally struggled to get the results this season which cost them a chance to compete on the continental stage and the local one. They now have to make early preparations for the following season and come back stronger.

By: Bill Eshun

Asante Kotoko coach, Dr Prosper Ogum says he is under no pressure at the club after his side defeated fierce rivals Hearts of Oak for the first time this season.

The first two games between Kotoko and Hearts of Oak this season, ended with the Phobians getting the better of the Reds after a draw and a win. Hearts of Oak managed a goalless draw against Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League first leg before winning 2-1 in the Presidential cup a week later at Accra Sports Stadium.

However, Dr Ogum got an important victory on Sunday, which sees the Reds closing in on the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League title. His club Kotoko has been hit with series of injuries saying referees should protect players.

“They don’t pick those injuries at training, the players picked the injuries during the League games so referees should protect them,” he said in a post-match interview.

The likes of George Mfegue, Yussif Mubarik, Andrews Appau and Fabio Gama had sustained injuries but returned ahead of Sunday’s game against Hearts of Oak with exception of Appau who is still sidelined. Mfegue, Mubarik and Gama started against their rivals with the Brazilian winning a penalty while Mubarik was substituted due another injury.

After Sunday’s victory, he talked about a potential pressure on him since he had failed to pick victory against Hearts of Oak after being appointed as head coach at the beginning of the season.

Previous Kotoko bosses who failed to beat their Premier League rivals have bagged enormous pressure but Ogum’s case in different stating he has never felt pressured at Kotoko despite lack of win against the Accra based opponents.

“I’ve never felt any pressure since I joined Kotoko,” he added. In Sunday’s victory, Ogum was relieved after Cameroonian forward Frank Mbella Etouga netted the only goal of the game for Asante Kotoko after converting early first half penalty.

Hearts of Oak midfielder Abdul Aziz Nurudeen impeded Brazilian midfielder Fabio Gama in the box. Kotoko are now 16 points adrift of their rivals on the Ghana Premier League table.

Hearts of Oak coach, Samuel Boadu left in the middle of his post-match presser after defeat to Asante Kotoko in Kumasi on Sunday.

Boadu stormed out of the presser over claims he was being harassed by journalists after his side lost to Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports stadium.

The Phobians have seen their title defence suffer a major hit once again after the defeat to the Porcupine Warriors opened the gap between them and their rivals to 16 points.

Earlier in the season, when Kotoko drew in Accra against Hearts of Oak, Samuel Boadu stated the Reds could not stand against his junior team.

At the presser, he was reminded of that statement of which he got angry and left.

Frank Mbella Etouga’s 16th minute strike from the spot settled the scores between the Ghanaian giants at the Baba Yara Sports stadium.

Hearts will have to now switch their attention to the FA Cup, where they have reached the quarter-finals and will face Skyy FC.

Watch the video below:

Nurudeen Amadu has resigned from his position as head coach of the Ghana Premier League side, King Faisal Football Club.

The club statement says Nurudeen Amadu, stepped down from his position with immediate effect due to a recent string of poor results in the ongoing season.

The Kumasi-based side is winless in six consecutive games in Premier League games.

Amadu tendered in his resignation letter on Sunday, April 10, 2022, after losing 1-0 away to bottom-placed Elmina Sharks at the Nduom Sports Stadium.

Assistant coach, Abubakar Fatawu will now take charge of the team.

The club statement read:

“Following the recent poor results of the club, our Head Coach, Nurudeen Amadu, has stepped down from his position with immediate effect. We thank the coach for his services to the club and wish him success in his future endeavours

“Assistant coach, Abubakar Fatawu will now take charge of the team for forthcoming games, while the club looks to appoint a new manager.”

They commenced the season on a good but have been struggling after matchday 25.

Faisal’s last win in the top-flight dates back to 25 February when they beat WAFA 2-1 in Sogakope.

They are now in the 13th position on the league table with 29 points from 24 matches.