The opening weekend of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League delivered an unexpected and thoroughly entertaining four-goal contest at the Berekum Golden City Park, where newly promoted Debibi United refused to be overawed by the occasion and held historic giants Asante Kotoko to a 2-2 draw in their first-ever top-flight fixture.
What many expected to be a straightforward away assignment for the Porcupine Warriors instead became a test of character, resilience and late-game composure, as the debutants twice came from behind and twice took the lead in spirit if not always on the scoreboard before a late intervention salvaged a point for the visitors.
Asante Kotoko arrived in Berekum carrying the weight of expectation that always accompanies one of Ghana’s most decorated clubs. Fresh from their Democracy Cup success over Hearts of Oak and with a new-look squad blending established names and youthful additions, the Kumasi side began with purpose.
They dictated the early tempo and found the breakthrough in the 14th minute when Hubert Gyau slipped a well-weighted through ball into the path of young forward Yakubu Dogo. The striker took a composed first touch, created a sliver of space, and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner to give Kotoko a 1-0 lead.
The goal settled the visitors and allowed them to control large spells of the first half. Debibi United, playing in front of a supportive home crowd that understood the historic nature of the afternoon, remained compact and organised, limiting Kotoko to few clear-cut chances after the opener. The Porcupine Warriors went into the interval with their slender advantage intact and looking well placed to collect three points from their opening fixture.
The second half told a different story. Debibi United emerged with greater intensity and belief. Four minutes after the restart they were level. A free-kick was awarded in a dangerous area, and Richard Owusu, the youngster who would define the afternoon, stepped forward. His delivery was precise and powerful, curling over the wall and finding the net to restore parity at 1-1.
The equaliser transformed the atmosphere inside Golden City Park. Suddenly the home side sensed an opportunity, and they began to press Kotoko higher up the pitch. Goalkeeper Ibrahim Danlad was called upon more frequently, producing important saves to keep the visitors in the contest as Debibi grew in confidence.
The pressure told again in the 73rd minute. Owusu, already the architect of the first equaliser, produced another fine finish to complete his brace and put Debibi United 2-1 ahead. For a club making its Premier League bow, the moment carried genuine historic weight. A side that had only months earlier secured promotion through the Division One playoffs now led one of the country’s traditional powerhouses with a little more than a quarter of an hour remaining. The Golden City Park erupted as the reality of the situation sank in.
Kotoko, however, refused to accept defeat. The visitors poured forward in search of an equaliser, and the game opened up into an end-to-end affair. In the 80th minute their persistence was rewarded. A scramble developed in the Debibi penalty area after a corner or loose ball was not fully cleared. Hubert Gyau, who had earlier provided the assist for Dogo’s opener, reacted quickest amid the chaos and forced the ball over the line to make it 2-2. The late goal rescued a point that had appeared to be slipping away and prevented what would have been a damaging opening-day defeat.
Neither side could find a winner in the remaining minutes despite late pressure from both teams. Debibi United defended stoutly to protect their hard-earned point, while Kotoko continued to probe for a third goal that never arrived. When the final whistle sounded, the points were shared after an encounter that had swung one way and then the other.
For Debibi United the result represented far more than a single point. In their first match at the highest level they had twice come from behind against a club of Kotoko’s stature, showcased attacking quality through Owusu’s two well-taken goals, and demonstrated the organisation and spirit required to compete in the Premier League.
The draw provided an encouraging platform from which to build their debut campaign. For Asante Kotoko the afternoon was a reminder that no fixture in the Ghana Premier League can be taken lightly. They had led, then fallen behind, and needed a late scramble to avoid leaving Berekum empty-handed. The point keeps them in touch at the start of a long season, but the performance will have given new coach and players plenty to analyse before the next assignment.
