Ghana Premier League side Asante Kotoko have confirmed that Prince Yaw Owusu will serve as interim head coach following the resignation of Abdul Karim Zito with immediate effect.
In an official statement issued on Monday night, February 9, 2026, the club stated that Prince Yaw Owusu will be supported by Mohammed Hamza Obeng, with the pair tasked to lead the team until a permanent head coach is appointed.
Coach Prince Yaw Owusu is to temporarily take charge of the technical team assisted by Mohammed Hamza Obeng, the Kumasi based club announced in a post on X.
The adjustment to the technical setup came only hours after the club disclosed that Abdul Karim Zito had stepped down from his role following the Porcupine Warriors’ MTN FA Cup round of 16 elimination by Aduana Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
After accepting his resignation, management expressed gratitude for his contributions and wished him well in his future endeavors. Abdul Karim Zito Kabutey has resigned from his role as the head coach of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club with immediate effect. Management has accepted the resignation, expressed its appreciation to the coach for his services and wished him the best for the future, the club stated.
Kotoko played out a goalless draw with Aduana in regulation time after missing an early penalty, but subsequently suffered a 4-2 loss in the penalty shootout. The defeat compounded the club’s struggles, having won just one of their last five games in all competitions.
Zito submitted his resignation letter to management moments before the usual technical meeting held every Monday. The management accepted the letter without attempting to persuade him to stay, according to the club’s Communications Director Sarfo Duku.
Speaking to Luv FM on Monday, Mr. Duku stated that the club was not surprised by the resignation because management knew that the coach was not happy with the performance of his team. He dismissed suggestions that the club had been considering terminating Zito’s contract before his resignation, clarifying that management had no intention of parting ways with the coach.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Sport Nite Show on Monday, February 9, 2026, Zito said he leaves the club as a happy man and believes his legacy at Kotoko remains intact. He stated that he resigned from his position following a meeting with management, but remains a legend of the club.
Zito, who was appointed last year, concluded his tenure after 37 competitive matches, recording 19 wins, 11 draws, and seven defeats. Defensively, his side kept 19 clean sheets while conceding 31 goals, and they scored 50 goals in attack. Under Zito, Kotoko won the FA Cup, President’s Cup, and Champion of Champions Cup, also known as the Super Cup.
In their first task, Prince Yaw Owusu and Mohammed Hamza Obeng will prepare the team for the upcoming Super Clash against Hearts of Oak in the Ghana Premier League next weekend. The highly anticipated derby is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, representing Matchday 22 of the season.
Prince Yaw Owusu, who previously served as assistant coach under Zito, described the FA Cup elimination as embarrassing in his post match comments on Sunday. He now faces the challenge of steadying the ship ahead of one of the most high pressure fixtures in Ghanaian football.
Mohammed Hamza Obeng is a former deputy coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, bringing experience from Kotoko’s arch rivals to the interim technical setup. The combination of internal knowledge from Owusu and external perspective from Obeng could provide the team with fresh tactical approaches.
Asante Kotoko currently sit fifth in the Ghana Premier League standings with 35 points from 21 matches, eight points behind league leaders Medeama SC. The two time African champions might go without a trophy this season after their FA Cup exit, making the remainder of the league campaign crucial for salvaging silverware.
The club has drawn twice and lost twice in their last five league games, a run of form that has raised questions about the team’s consistency and tactical approach. Kotoko’s recent struggles stand in sharp contrast to their trophy laden spell earlier in Zito’s tenure when they dominated domestic competitions.
The Super Clash against Hearts of Oak carries significant importance beyond just three points. The fixture historically attracts massive crowds and intense media attention, making it an opportunity for Owusu and Obeng to demonstrate their credentials and potentially secure consideration for permanent positions if they deliver a positive result.
Asante Kotoko management has indicated that the new technical direction will be communicated in due course, suggesting that the club is actively pursuing a permanent head coach while giving the interim duo an opportunity to prove themselves.
The Porcupine Warriors will need to regroup quickly after the FA Cup disappointment and find consistency in the league to have any chance of mounting a late title challenge. With 13 games remaining in the domestic season, the interim coaching team faces an immediate test of their ability to inspire and organize the squad.
