In a closely contested match at the Nana Akona Mensah stadium in Nsoatre, Asante Kotoko faced a disappointing 1-0 loss to Nsoatreman FC.
The only goal of the game was scored by Stephen Diyou, following a last touch of Manaf Umar’s kick. However, the outcome of the match was marred by complaints from Asante Kotoko head coach, Prosper Nartey Ogum, regarding the officiating.
Coach Ogum was outspoken in his post-match interview, expressing his dissatisfaction with the referees’ performance, specifically, he believed that Diyou’s goal was an offside.
“A goal was scored, and the players were there, so they had a better view. From where I was, what I saw was consistent with what the players saw, and they rightly approached the referee to voice their concerns,” Ogum told the media.
“However, he decided to punish us further by issuing a red card in response to their complaints. If you observed an offside goal and he ended up giving us a red card, the rest is for the public to judge. I’m not the one to make that call.”
Looking ahead, Asante Kotoko will face Dreams FC in Round 9 of the Betpawa Premier League.
Amadu Hamidu
