Asante Kotoko secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Berekum Chelsea in the MTN FA Cup semifinal at the Tarkwa TnA Stadium, booking their place in the final against Golden Kick FC.
The tightly contested match, played before a vibrant crowd, was decided by a late header from Albert Amoah, sending the Porcupine Warriors to their first FA Cup final since 2017.
The first half saw both teams create chances but fail to break the deadlock. Berekum Chelsea, led by their talisman Stephen Amankona, started brightly, with the winger’s pace and trickery troubling Kotoko’s defense.
Chelsea’s fluid play created several scoring opportunities, but they were unable to convert, a point that would later haunt them.
Kotoko, under the guidance of coach Abdul Karim Zito, remained disciplined, relying on their defensive solidity, which had seen them concede just one goal in the tournament prior to this match.
After the break, Kotoko increased their intensity, and the game’s decisive moment came in the 80th minute. Amoah rose above Chelsea’s defense to head in a pinpoint cross from Baba Yahaya, sparking wild celebrations among the Kotoko faithful.
Despite Chelsea’s late push for an equalizer, Kotoko’s backline, marshaled by Justice Blay, held firm, ensuring the narrow victory.
Berekum Chelsea’s head coach, Samuel Boadu, expressed frustration after the match, believing his side matched Kotoko’s performance but fell short in the crucial moment. “Asante Kotoko didn’t do anything better than us, they took their chance and we failed to score,” Boadu said, reflecting on his team’s inability to capitalize on their opportunities.
For Kotoko, the win marks a significant step for Zito, who is now one match away from his first trophy with the club after taking over from Prosper Narteh Ogum earlier in the season.
The nine-time FA Cup champions will face Division One side Golden Kick FC, who stunned Attram De Visser 3-1 in the other semifinal, in the final on June 15, 2025, at the University of Ghana Stadium. A victory would not only end Kotoko’s FA Cup title drought but also secure a spot in the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup.
Chelsea, despite their spirited run, which saw them score 12 goals in the tournament, will rue their missed chances. The clash showcased the intensity and quality of Ghanaian football, with both sides delivering a spectacle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
