Bibiani GoldStars head coach Frimpong Manso believes their 2-1 victory over Asante Kotoko in the opening game of the 2025 GHALCA Top 4 tournament will serve as major motivation for his squad.
The Ghana Premier League champions stunned FA Cup holders Kotoko on Wednesday night at the University of Ghana Stadium
. Kotoko went ahead through Albert Amoah, but Samuel Attah Kumi equalized from the spot before halftime. A costly back pass by Henry Ansu then handed GoldStars the winner after the break.
Speaking after the game, Manso said the result was more about his players handling the big stage than just the win.
“It’s been good for us in terms of motivation because our players will be inspired by this. Playing a team like Kotoko in your first game brings pressure, but once they dealt with it, I think they will grow stronger in the next games.
For me, it’s not only about the win; I wanted to see them on a big occasion like this, and they delivered, even though there are still mistakes to correct.”
GoldStars will next face Hearts of Oak, who edged Heart of Lions 1-0, while Kotoko take on Lions in the second round of matches. Both GoldStars and Kotoko are using the Top 4 tournament as preparation for their upcoming CAF inter-club campaigns.
