Gazale Suffers First Defeat as Kotoko Interim Head Coach : Abdulai Gazale suffered his first defeat as interim head coach of Asante Kotoko against Berekum Chelsea in a Week 26 Ghana Premier League match on Friday April 14th. 

Gazale replaced Seydou Zerbo who was sacked on March 27th following a 2-0 home defeat against Medeama SC.

Chelsea completely dominated the Ghana champions by imposing an emphatic 3-0 defeat against the Porcupine Warriors as Kalou Ouattara netted a superb brace for the hosts who were without the league’s top scorer Mezack Afriyie.

Ansu Kofi Patrick then made it 3-0 for the host team five minutes from time.

The former Nsawkawman FC striker Ouattara made it 2-0 three minutes after the hour mark as Chelsea proved too strong for the Porcupine Warriors.

Chelsea nearly took the lead in the 5th minute as Ouattara’s effort hit the goal post. Christopher Ennin’s side continued to attack their visitors in the opening 20 minutes non-stop of the game but no goals would be recorded.

In the 30th minute Ibrahim Danlad was forced to make a big save to deny the hosts from taking the lead.

Georges Mfegue tried his luck from from distance in the 40th minute but his shot went wide as the first period ended 0-0.

After going down by 1-0 in the 50th minute , Kotoko interim boss Abdulai Gazale responded by replacing Steven Mukwala and Isaac Oppong with Enock Morrison and Shadrack Addo in the 52nd minute.

But it was Berekum Chelsea who would add a second goal in the 63rd minute through the influential Ouattara.

Gazale continued to make more attacking changes by introducing winger Dickson Afoakwa for defender Augustine Agyapong in the 75th minute as his team searched to equalize the goals.

Substitute Shaibu Haruna delivered a cross into the Kotoko area and Danlad could only push the ball to the way of Ansu Kofi Patrick who slotted home the third goal of the evening for Chelsea.

Asante Kotoko Starting Team : 

Danlad Ibrahim GK (C)

Augustine Agyapong Sheriff Mohammed , Mohammed Alhassan , John Tedeku

Sheriff Mohammed , Rocky Dwamena , Richmond Lamptey

Steven Mukwala , Isaac Oppong , Georges Mfegue

Abdulai Gazale’s games in charge of Asante Kotoko since replacing Seydou Zerbo : 

Legon Cities 1 Asante Kotoko 1 on 30th March 2023 – Alex Aso 70th minute / Richard Boadu 15th minute penalty. Venue : El Wak Stadium.

GK Frederick Asare

Augustine Agyapong , Mohammed Sherif , Mohammed Alhassan , John Tedeku

Richard Boadu , Mohammed Sheriff , Richmond Lamptey

Eric Zeze

Georges Mfegue , Matheus De Souza

Subs in : Enock Morrison for Zeze in 60th minute / Steven Mukwala for Mfegue in 77th minute / Isaac Oppong for De Souza in the 77th minute.

Unused Subs : GK Moise Pouaty , Andrews Appau , Charles Owusu , Nicholas Osei Bonsu , Maxwell Agyemang , Shadrack Addo.

Asante Kotoko 4 Real Tamale United 0 on 2nd April 2023 – Augustine Agyapong 37th minute free-kick , Steven Mukwala 47th minute penalty , Steven Mukwala 64th minute , Matheus De Souza 90th minute. Babayara sport stadium.

GK Frederick Asare

Augustine Agyapong , Mohammed Sherif , Mohammed Alhassan , Nicholas Osei Bonsu

Richard Boadu , Richmond Lamptey , Isaac Oppong

Eric Serge Zeze

Steven Mukwala , Matheus De Souza

Subs in : Mohammed Sheriff for Richard Boadu in the 68th minute / Georges Mfegue for Isaac Oppong in the 68th minute / Enock Morrison for Zeze in the 80th minute / Maxwell Agyemang for Mohamed Sherif in the 80th minute.

Unused Subs : GK Moise Pouaty , Andrews Appau , Charles Owusu , Shadrack Addo , Rocky Dwamena.

Asante Kotoko 0 King Faisal FC 0 on 5th April 2023. Venue : Babayara sport stadium.

GK Frederick Asare

Augustine Agyapong , Maxwell Agyemang , Mohammed Alhassan , Nicholas Osei Bonsu

Richard Boadu , Richmond Lamptey , Enock Morrison

Eric Serge Zeze

Steven Mukwala , Matheus De Souza

Subs in : Isaac Oppong for Eric Zeze in the 66th minute / Mohammed Sheriff for Enock Morrison in the 66th minute / Georges Mfegue for De Souza in the 75th minute.

Unused Subs : GK Ibrahim Danlad , Andrews Appau , Yussif Mubarik , John Tedeku , Shadrack Addo , Rocky Dwamena.

Berekum Chelsea 3 Asante Kotoko 0 on April 14th – Kalou Ouattara 50th minute , Kalou Ouattara 63rd minute , Ansu Kofi Patrick 85th minute.