Frederick Asare (L) and Justice Blay (R) are among six players axed by Kotoko
Asante Kotoko have confirmed the departure of six players following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season, marking the beginning of what appears to be a major squad overhaul.
Among the names released are senior figures Justice Blay and Frederick Asare, both of whom played key roles for the Porcupine Warriors in recent seasons.
End of the road for Blay and Asare
33-year-old midfielder Justice Blay, who frequently wore the captain’s armband, departs the club after a solid campaign in the heart of midfield.
The experienced former Medeama man featured in 27 league matches this season, scoring three goals.
Though he made two appearances in Kotoko’s triumphant FA Cup run, Blay remained on the bench during the final win over Golden Kick. His leadership and composure will surely be missed in the dressing room.
Goalkeeper Frederick Asare, another of the team’s captains, also parts ways with the club after a season of ups and downs.
Asare began the campaign as the first-choice shot-stopper and made 15 appearances, keeping five clean sheets.
However, he lost his starting place midway through the season to goalkeeper Mohamed Camara.
His defining moment came on June 15, 2025, when he lifted the FA Cup trophy after Kotoko’s hard-fought win, a fitting send-off for the shot-stopper.
Eduku, Bassey, Adjetey, and Dwamena also exit
29-year-old striker Sampson Eduku, who joined from Iraqi side Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya at the beginning of the season, struggled to make an impact.
He played only seven league games without scoring a goal. Eduku did, however, feature in the FA Cup final, helping Kotoko secure silverware to close out a frustrating individual campaign.
Nigerian forward Wisdom Fernando Bassey, once considered a promising addition, also failed to establish himself in the team.
He made 17 league appearances, with most coming from the bench, and scored once, but was unable to stake a consistent claim to the starting lineup.
Another underwhelming exit is that of Daniel Andrian Adjetey, a 25-year-old defender signed from Great Olympics. His time at Kotoko was marked by limited opportunities, playing just seven matches all season.
His last appearance came in the 2-0 loss to Nations FC in April, and he had been largely relegated to the bench since then.
Midfielder Michael Kyei Dwamena was one of the more regularly used players among the released group, featuring in 25 league games.
However, despite his minutes, he struggled to rediscover his past form and contributed just a single goal in a campaign where Kotoko finished third in the Ghana Premier League.
FKA/EB
Meanwhile, watch the latest edition of Sports Check with former Hearts of Oak midfielder Frederick Ansah Botchway
