Asante Kotoko head coach Eric Tinkler believes his rebuilt squad has the quality to challenge for and win the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League title, declaring: “We have the materials to win the league”.
The South African coach was speaking after the Porcupine Warriors’ pre-season victory over Heart of Lions, as he continues preparations for his first campaign in charge of the Kumasi-based club.
Tinkler was appointed in July and is overseeing a significant rebuilding process at Asante Kotoko after a disappointing 2025/26 season in which the club finished without silverware.
Several weeks of pre-season work have given the former Cape Town City, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United coach the opportunity to assess his players and shape a squad capable of competing for Ghana’s biggest domestic prize.
Although Asante Kotoko have cup commitments ahead, Tinkler has made it clear that the Ghana Premier League is the club’s main priority. His comments underline the scale of the ambition at a club that is looking to return to the top of Ghanaian football.
The win against Heart of Lions formed part of that assessment process, with Tinkler continuing to examine the options available to him before the competitive campaign begins.
Asante Kotoko will play another pre-season friendly before facing fierce rivals Hearts of Oak in the 2026 Democracy Cup. Tinkler views that fixture as an important test of his team’s readiness for the start of the league season.
The Porcupine Warriors will open their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign away against newly promoted Debibi United.
That opening-day assignment will be the first league test of Tinkler’s attempt to restore Asante Kotoko’s status as one of Ghana’s dominant clubs. The club finished last season without a trophy, increasing the pressure on the new head coach to oversee an immediate improvement.
Tinkler’s belief that his players possess the necessary quality offers an early indication of the expectations surrounding the team. The squad’s development during pre-season, followed by the meeting with Hearts of Oak in the 2026 Democracy Cup, will provide further evidence of how far the rebuilding work has progressed.
For now, the coach remains focused on ensuring that Asante Kotoko are prepared for their league opener and able to compete at the top end of the division. The target is clear: to challenge for the Ghana Premier League title and deliver the club’s first league championship under Tinkler’s tenure.
