Asante Kotoko’s push into the Ghana Premier League’s top five was stalled on Sunday after a 1-1 draw with Aduana FC at the Baba Yara Stadium — a result that left head coach Karim Zito visibly frustrated.

Aduana, two-time league champions, stunned the home crowd early when Emmanuel Marfo reacted quickest to a rebound and tapped in from close range, capitalizing on a shaky start from the Porcupine Warriors.

Despite the setback, Kotoko responded with determination. Their equalizer came through a moment of brilliance from Lord Amoah, whose thunderous strike from outside the box brought the stadium to life and restored belief among the fans.

The second half saw Kotoko dominate possession and create several chances, but their finishing let them down. Zito, while acknowledging the team’s injury struggles, was candid in his post-match assessment.

“I’m not satisfied, but I can’t blame anybody,” he said. “We had a lot of possession and created many chances, but we couldn’t score. In our quest to win the league, we must win all home matches.”

Zito also reflected on the broader implications of the result:
“We are yet to lose a game, but in terms of points, losing one and winning one is better than two draws. So it’s another debt to go away and win.”

The draw leaves Kotoko sixth on the table with 16 points from eight games and two matches in hand. They trail joint leaders Medeama and Heart of Lions by five points.

The Porcupine Warriors will look to bounce back when they face Young Apostles in a rescheduled midweek fixture — a crucial opportunity to reignite their title ambitions.