Sports
Tackling the Stadium Merry-Go-Round
Asante Kotoko’s recent struggles before dispatching Kwara United of Nigeria in the first round of the CAF Confederations Cup qualifiers highlight a persistent challenge for Ghanaian football: stadium readiness. With the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in poor condition at the time, Kotoko were forced to play their first-leg match in Accra, as other venues around the country failed to meet CAF standards.
While Accra offered vibrant fan support, it also came with a notable “against” factor—many Nigerian fans in the capital provided vocal support for their team, impacting Kotoko’s performance. Despite this, Kotoko edged Kwara United 4–3 in the first leg and secured a 1–0 win in the second leg to progress on a 5–3 aggregate.
Next, Kotoko faces Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca, a team with a stellar record domestically and internationally:
- Domestic titles: 22 Moroccan League titles, 9 Moroccan Throne Cups, 1 Independence Cup.
- Continental/international titles: 3 CAF Champions Leagues, 1 African Cup Winners’ Cup (now CAF Confederations Cup), 1 CAF Super Cup, 1 Afro-Asian Club Championship, 1 Mohammed V Cup, 1 Arab Club Champions Cup, 1 Arab Super Cup, 3 North African Championships, 1 North African Cup.
Given the strength of this opposition, Kotoko’s focus should be on performance—but the conversation remains fixated on where the match will be played, as the readiness of Baba Yara Stadium remains uncertain. Renovations, including work on the playing surface, have been ongoing, with recent reports indicating the stadium is about 80% ready ahead of the October 19 fixture.
This issue reflects a broader infrastructural challenge in Ghanaian sports facilities, which has persisted for over a decade. Past venues such as Essipon Stadium, Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale, and Cape Coast Sports Stadium—built to ease pressures during the 2008 African Cup of Nations—are now in poor condition, barely meeting standards for international competitions. The University of Ghana Stadium is currently serving as a temporary alternative, but without long-term planning, it risks joining the ranks of neglected facilities.
To move beyond this “stadium merry-go-round,” decisive action is needed. This may involve reconstructing major venues, such as Accra’s or Kumasi’s stadiums, to ensure Ghana has world-class facilities capable of hosting international events without repeated last-minute fixes.
Ghanaian football deserves infrastructure that matches its ambition—anything less is a temporary and insufficient solution.
By Andrew Nortey
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The management of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club has assured its supporters that steps are being taken to appoint a substantive head coach following the team’s recent poor performances.
In a statement issued by the club’s Communications Director, Sarfo Duku Esq., the board acknowledged concerns raised by fans over the absence of a permanent coach and the team’s current form.
He said the club understands the high expectations that come with representing Asante Kotoko and admitted that recent results have been disappointing.
“The Board is actively working to appoint a competent substantive head coach whose philosophy aligns with the long-term ambitions of the club,” he stated.
Mr. Duku explained that the club is taking its time to ensure the right candidate is selected, adding that management remains committed to restoring the team to its expected standards.
He apologised to supporters for the team’s recent performances and assured them that decisive steps are being taken to improve results.
In the meantime, he called on fans to remain loyal and continue supporting the team in the remaining matches of the season.
Asante Kotoko, one of Ghana’s most successful football clubs, has faced increasing pressure from supporters following a string of poor results in recent games.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Sports journalist, Dan Kwaku Yeboah has expressed mixed reactions to the decision by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to part ways with former Black Stars coach Otto Addo, describing it as correct but poorly timed.
Speaking on the development with ghanaiantimes.com.gh ‘s Edem Mensah-Tsotorme, he explained that although the decision to remove Otto Addo may be justified, the timing could affect the team’s preparation for the upcoming World Cup.
He noted that the newly appointed coach has only a few weeks to work with the team before the tournament begins, making it difficult to make any significant impact.
According to him, the team has just two friendly matches scheduled in May ahead of the competition, leaving a very short period between those games and the start of the World Cup.
He stressed that it would be unrealistic for any coach to fully understand the squad and implement effective strategies within such a limited time.
Dan Kwaku Yeboah urged Ghanaians to manage their expectations, warning that expecting outstanding performance under the circumstances could lead to disappointment.
He added that football can be unpredictable, and while the team could still perform well, fans should remain cautious in their hopes.
The astute sports journalist concluded that if the team performs beyond expectations, it would be a welcome outcome, but supporters should not put too much pressure on the new coach and players.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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