Asante Kotoko’s technical team, now under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Eric Tinkler, has reportedly communicated to the club’s board that a group of players currently on the books will not feature in the side’s plans for the forthcoming Ghana Premier League campaign.
The assessment forms part of a deliberate and ongoing process of reshaping the squad so that the Porcupine Warriors can present a sharper, more competitive unit capable of challenging at the highest level after a disappointing previous season that saw them finish well outside the title race.
Among those identified as surplus to requirements are midfielder Prince Badu, who had only recently arrived at the club on a multi-year contract from Nations FC and was expected to add steel and positional discipline in central areas; winger Elvis Kyei Baffour, whose pace and directness on the flanks had been available but ultimately failed to secure a consistent starting berth; left-sided defender Francis Acquah, signed earlier to bolster defensive options yet now judged not to fit the evolving tactical blueprint; young goalkeeper Benjamin Twum, who has remained on the fringes of the first-team picture; and forward Kwame Poku, the former Ghana U23 international who returned to the club in 2025 after spells abroad, scored a modest four goals in limited appearances last term, and now finds himself among those set to depart as the attacking department is reconfigured.
These decisions reflect Tinkler’s early evaluation of the existing roster in collaboration with the wider technical and football department staff, including Director of Football Stanley Menzo.
The South African coach, brought in during mid-July 2026 with a clear mandate to restore competitiveness and eventually return the club to domestic supremacy and continental relevance, has made clear that building a side capable of sustained success requires hard choices about personnel.
The intention is not merely to reduce numbers but to create space for reinforcements who better align with the preferred style of play—one that draws on elements of structured possession while remaining adaptable enough to find different routes to victory depending on the opponent and circumstances.
A second batch of names is expected to be released next week, indicating that the pruning process is far from complete and that further departures will follow as the club continues its pre-season preparations. The overall aim remains the construction of a leaner, more balanced and higher-quality squad that can compete week in and week out in what promises to be another demanding Ghana Premier League season.
By clearing out players who no longer form part of the long-term vision, the technical team seeks to ensure that every member of the group fully buys into the new standards of professionalism, tactical discipline and collective ambition that Tinkler is seeking to instil from the outset of his tenure.