Shatta Wale's electrifying performance hinted at what was about to happen in the second half. When he dropped Mahama Paper, the president of
Shatta Wale’s electrifying performance hinted at what was about to happen in the second half. When he dropped Mahama Paper, the president of Ghana could be seen singing word for word because the song was crafted in his name.
The 2025 Presidential Cup, organised by GHALCA in honour of Ghana’s first gentleman, caught the attention of the country with people trooping to the Accra Sports Stadium to have a feel of a good musical show and once in a lifetime trip to watch the Super Clash.
The kick-off of the game was delayed by an hour but it did not kill anyone’s interest. The two glamorous clubs in Ghana’s meetings are always fierce, intense, competitive and keenly contested with the latest one not an exception.
Hearts of Oak went into the game with a new head coach, Ma-Ud Didi Draani, who was appointed only after the just-ended season. The club were winless in their last five games against their bitterest rivals, Asante Kotok. They were well motivated to end the unwanted run.
Asante Kotoko however came into the game off the backdrop of winning the MTN FA Cup title which has secured them a place in the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup. The club had won four and drawn one against Phobia so they were motivated to beat them once again.
Phobia got off to a good start when Camara failed to deal with a simple cross after he punched the ball into the path of Hamza Issah. The striker had the simplest job to do by tapping in to give Phobia a 23rd-minute lead. Phobia ended the first half with a goal ahead.
Kotoko came into the second half threatening very early to equalize. Emmanuel Antwi’s free-kick rattled the crossbar in the 51st minute. In the 53rd minute, Peter Amidu Acquah’s solo effort from the left-hand side restored parity for Fabulous. A defensive blunder from Phobia helped Albert Amoah assist Kwame Poku to score Kotoko’s second.
“We were mentally tough so you saw how we came into the game in the second half”, Asante Kotoko’s head coach Karim Zito said. The Porcupine Warriors’ second half was incredible after the quick turnaround of things.
Hearts of Oak’s equaliser in the 7th minute was controversially denied for offside. Camara, who gifted Hearts of Oka a goal, saved a last-minute penalty by Abdul Aziz to keep Kotoko’s lead. The Porcupine Warriors protected them 2-1 and lifted the trophy.
It was Asante Kotoko’s 5th win in their last 6 games against Hearts of Oak making it one of their successful moments against the Accra giants.
“We love the fans so much and we thank them for coming, we are going to give them some very good performances”, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani commended the fans of Accra Hearts of Oak for the wonderful support.
Both teams will return home and recharge their batteries for their respective pre-seasons ahead of the 2025-26 season, where they are expected to challenge for the league title.
Here’s Kotoko’s President’s Cup title history: 9 in total.
✅ 1973 🏆
✅ 1984 🏆
✅ 2004 🏆
✅ 2005 🏆
✅ 2008 🏆
✅ 2016 🏆
✅ 2017 🏆
✅ 2019 🏆
✅ 2025 🏆
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