Asante Kotoko head coach Abdul Karim Zito has declared that his team has no excuse not to defeat Aduana FC when the two sides clash in the MTN FA Cup Round of 16 this weekend. The experienced tactician believes anything short of victory would be unacceptable given Kotoko’s ambitions this season.
Zito’s comments come on the back of Kotoko’s disappointing 3–1 defeat to Heart of Lions in their Matchday 21 Ghana Premier League fixture at the Kpando Sports Stadium last Saturday. The loss raised concerns among supporters, but the coach insists the setback will serve as motivation rather than a setback.
Speaking after the game, the former Black Satellites trainer revealed that he is targeting a double this season, with his sights firmly set on winning both the Ghana Premier League and the MTN FA Cup. According to Zito, achieving such success requires his side to be ruthless in knockout competitions.
The Kotoko coach stressed that his team cannot afford to repeat the mistakes that cost them in the league defeat. He noted that lessons have been taken from the loss and assured fans that improvements will be evident in the FA Cup encounter against Aduana FC.
“Definitely, we have to win that game against Aduana FC. We don’t have any excuse because my main objective is to win the league or the FA Cup—or even the double,” Zito said. “So I have to work hard because we cannot afford to lose to Aduana.”
The upcoming fixture presents an opportunity for Kotoko to bounce back strongly and restore confidence among their supporters. A convincing performance could also reignite their momentum as they continue their push for silverware this season.
Asante Kotoko will host their regional rivals Aduana FC at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, with fans expected to turn out in large numbers.
