Remembering May 9, 2001 Disaster

May 9th, 2001 is the darkest day in Ghana football after 127 soccer fans lost their lives during a Premier League fixture between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium.

After a slight rainfall, the game started at 5 pm on that fateful Wednesday and Kotoko took the lead through Lawrence Adjei in the 60th minute.

Hearts then scored two late goals in the 77th and 81st minute through Ismael Addo.

Unhappy Kotoko fans started throwing plastic chairs unto the field after the final whistle to register their displeasure to the referee for allowing the second goal for Hearts which they deemed to be offside. The resulting tear gas from the police claimed 127 lives.

Match Day 4: Ghana Premier League, 2001

Venue: Accra Sports Stadium
Day: Wednesday
Time: 5pm

127 People lost their lives after the game

FT: Hearts 2-1 Kotoko (Scorers: Ishmael Addo (2x) 77' 81' ; Lawrence Adjei 60')

Centre Referee
Joseph Wilson Sey

Assistant Referees
F. B. Arthur - Line 1
M. D. Arthur - Line 2

Fourth Referee
Yeboah Yawson

Hearts Line-up
1. Sammy Adjei (GK)
2. Amankwah Mireku
3. Jacob Nettey (C)
4. Dan Quaye
5. Stephen Tetteh
6. Joe Ansah
7. Charles Allotey
8. Lawrence Adjah Tetteh
9. Ismael Addo
10. Emmanuel Osei Kuffour
11. Charles Taylor

Substitutes
1. Eben Dida (GK)
2. Richard Nii Noi
3. Dan Oppong
4. Edmund Copson
5. George Eranio
6. Kenneth Sarpong
7. Bernard Don Bortey

Coach: Cecil Jones Attuquayefio

Kotoko Line-up
1. Osei Boateng (GK)
2. Kwaku Duah
3. Godfred Yeboah
4. Dan Acquah
5. Joe Hendricks
6. Joe Sam
7. Lawrence Adjei
8. Godwin Ablordey (C)
9. Shilla Alhassan
10. Nana Frimpong
11. Frank Asowah

Substitutes
1. Louis Quainoo (GK)
2. Kwaku Kyere
3. Anas Mohammed
4. Stephen Oduro
5. Abedi Sarfo
6. Patrick Duodu
7. Angelo Dedon

Reserves
1. Joe Okyere (Not in Jersey)
2. Fuseini Adams (Not in Jersey)

Coach: Ernst Middendorf