What started as a tense Ghana Premier League Matchday 19 fixture between Asante Kotoko and Nsoatreman FC at the Nana Koramansah Park turned into a tragedy when a Kotoko fan, identified as Frimpong Yaw Francis, was fatally stabbed in post-match violence.
The game ended in a 1-0 defeat for Kotoko, but the real turmoil unfolded after the final whistle. A heated on-field confrontation saw four players receiving red cards, escalating tensions between both teams and their supporters. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, leading to violent clashes.
In an official statement, Asante Kotoko confirmed the tragic loss of Frimpong Yaw Francis, who sustained fatal injuries during the melee and was rushed to Sunyani Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Another angle of Kotoko’s fight with Nsoatreman.
This is disheartening 🤯#3Sports pic.twitter.com/yeiqBNGBU1
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) February 2, 2025
The club strongly condemned the violence, expressing concern over the hostile treatment their players and officials faced from the moment they arrived at the stadium.
The clashes also left Kotoko’s Head of Media with a severe ear injury after he was struck by an object. Additionally, Kotoko’s goalkeeper, Mohammed Camara, was physically assaulted on the pitch, as sections of the home supporters hurled objects at him.
With a heavy heart , we announce the untimely demise of our beloved supporter, Frimpong Yaw Francis, whose life was taken by some hooligans at the Nsoatre Park during our #GOLM19 game against Nsoatreman F.C
Our deepest condolences to the family. pic.twitter.com/1jl2RqURj2
— Asante Kotoko SC – 2X CAF CL Winners🥇 (@AsanteKotoko_SC) February 2, 2025
Reports further indicate that some travelling Kotoko supporters and media personnel from Kumasi were also caught up in the chaos, suffering attacks in the process.
In response to the tragic events, Kotoko has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to launch an immediate investigation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Flashback of the late Francis Yaw Frimpong, affectionately called Nana Pooley, doing his usual pre-match ritual of beating the gong gong before Kotoko’s games.#3Sports pic.twitter.com/ioafYG7u8p
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) February 3, 2025
Beyond the loss of life, the club also suffered significant damage to essential equipment, including laptops, technical team communication devices, and other audio-visual gadgets.
Kotoko emphasized the urgent need to tackle hooliganism in Ghanaian football, warning that such violent incidents endanger players, officials, journalists, and fans.
The club assured its full cooperation with the GFA and urged authorities to enforce stricter security measures at league venues to prevent future occurrences of such tragedies.
