Asante Kotoko faced another setback at the Baba Yara Stadium on Thursday night as visiting Nsoatreman FC secured a 1-2 victory, further complicating an already tumultuous season for the Porcupine Warriors.
The defeat left Kotoko fans outraged, accusing the players of lacking the necessary fighting spirit for the Kotoko jersey. Fans expressed their discontent over Kotoko's dismal performance, having garnered only one point out of a possible 18 since the commencement of the second round of the season. They called on the Life Patron to intervene before the situation spiraled out of control.
The match started sluggishly for the Porcupines, who were in dire need of a win to appease their supporters following a winless streak of five consecutive matches. Nsoatreman FC, known for their resilience at the Baba Yara Stadium, dominated the early proceedings, frequently infiltrating Kotoko's half with relentless attacks.
Their persistence paid off in the 22nd minute when Abdul Manaf Umar capitalized on a cross from the right flank to open the scoring. Despite Kotoko's attempts to rally, they struggled to string together coherent passes, much to the frustration of their fans.
However, Kotoko managed to level the score in the 40th minute through Shadrach Addo, who unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box after a setup by Enoch Morrison. The first half ended with both teams tied at one goal each, setting the stage for an intense second half.
Kotoko started the second half with renewed urgency, seeking to clinch a much-needed victory. However, Nsoatreman's solid defence thwarted Kotoko's attacking endeavours, frustrating the home side's attempts to seize control of the game.
Despite Kotoko's late substitutions and offensive manoeuvres, Nsoatreman held firm, denying Kotoko any clear-cut opportunities. With minutes remaining, Abdul Manaf almost secured victory for the visitors, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
In the dying moments of stoppage time, Mohammed Abdul Rahman sealed the win for Nsoatreman with a remarkable goal, leaving the Kotoko defence helpless. The defeat marked Kotoko's 10th loss of the season, as they failed to mount a comeback against their resilient opponents.