Champion-of-Champions: GoldStars coach Frimpong Manso reflects on painful loss to Kotoko

GoldStars quest to add a third trophy to their cabinet was pegged back by giants, Asante Kotoko in the Champion-of-Champions on Sunday.

GoldStars, who won their maiden Ghana Premier League title last season, clinched their first ever GHALCA Top 4 weeks ago as they prepare to take the next domestic and continental campaign by storm.

They faced FA Cup winners, Asante Kotoko at the Duns Park on Sunday but fell short to Musa Hamzata’s 68th minute goal, losing the trophy on home ground.

GoldStars head coach, Desmond Frimpong Manson reflected on the painful loss in front of their fans.

“You could see that, the first half was too physical and for both teams and you couldn’t see the ball on turf, it was end-to-end stuff which was not good for us.

“So it was difficult for me to create chances so yes for me both teams did not play well in the first half so in the second half I wouldn’t say it was a run of play but it wasn’t a game that they were dominating. So we couldn’t defend the play well.”

Asante Kotoko added the Champion-of-Champions cup to their trophy cabinet after clinching the FA Cup, the 2025 President’s Cup and the Toyota Cup against Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Gold Stars will play against Algeria’s JS Kabylie in the CAF Champions League Preliminary stage with Kotoko pitted against Kwara United in the Confederation Cup.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.