Asante Kotoko head coach, Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum, has commended Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare for his outstanding performances during his debut call-up to the Black Stars.
The 32-year-old shot-stopper was preferred over Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Jojo Wollacott for Ghana’s Matchday 5 and 6 games in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers during the March international break.
Asare impressed by keeping a clean sheet in Ghana’s emphatic 5-0 victory at the Accra Sports Stadium before delivering another stellar performance in Morocco, where the Black Stars secured a 3-0 win over Madagascar.
Despite the historic rivalry between Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, Dr. Ogum acknowledged the goalkeeper’s brilliance, emphasizing his representation of the Ghana Premier League.
“It is a clear indication that there are other players in the local league who, when given the necessary opportunity, the right opportunity, will also be able to showcase their talent. The Ghana Premier League has quality; people think that there is no quality in the Ghana Premier League, there is quality,” he stated.
“These are the very players who play here, and they just cross the borders of this country and then in the next six or seven months, we are calling them to come and play for the Black Stars. Look at somebody like Razak Simpson; very good player. If you give him the opportunity, he will, and we saw it when we were playing the AFCON qualifiers when he was given the opportunity,” he added.
Following Asare’s impressive displays, Black Stars head coach Otto Addo confirmed that the goalkeeper will remain the team’s first-choice option.
Ghana’s consecutive victories have significantly boosted their chances of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
