Kotoko lift Otumfuo trophy

Kumasi, Dec 18, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Sunday beat ASFA Yennega of Burkina Faso 3-1 to lift the first maiden Otumfuo Invitational Soccer Tournament trophy in the final match played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

Kotoko were therefore presented with a giant trophy donated by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and 30,000 dollars while ASFA took home 20,000 dollars. The champions had earlier beating city rivals, King Faisal 1-0 in their semi final encounter.

Oheneba Adusei Opoku, Akyempimhene and Nana Yaw Owusu who represented the Otumfuo presented the trophy to Kotoko's skipper Issa Ahmed and a 21-inch colour television set to Michael Asante of Kotoko who was voted the best player of the match.

ASFA were the first to find the net in the eighth minute through a penalty converted by Alassane Ismael after goalkeeper Mohammed Alhassan had fouled Traore Issah in the box.

Kotoko who were undaunted by the early goal went ahead to cancel the lead in the 19th minute through Ahmed Toure who connected home George Yamoah's pass and with the second goal coming six minutes later when Nana Arhin Duah's perfect shot beat ASFA's goalie Soula Aboudouly to end the first half.

The tow teams resumed the second half full of vigour and it from then the game became a ding-dong affair until Kotoko put the icing on the game with their third goal through George Yamoah just on the stroke of regulation time.

Line Up: Kotoko: Mohammed Alhassan, Aziz Ansah, Osei Kwame, Issah Ahmed, Samuel Addo, Michael Asante, George Yamoah, Nana Arhin Duah, Ahmed Toure/Frank Osei, Charles Taylor/Yusif Chibsah, Douglas Nkrumah/Edmund Owusu-Ansah.