Asante Kotoko head coach Karim Zito has expressed satisfaction with striker Kwame Opoku’s performance for the Black Stars in their 2-1 defeat to Nigeria during the Unity Cup in London, despite criticism over the player's lack of goals.
Opoku started the match but was replaced after halftime by Brandon Thomas-Asante, who later scored Ghana’s only goal. Nigeria secured victory through a first-half penalty from Cyriel Dessers and an own goal by Razak Simpson.
Some fans questioned Opoku’s effectiveness in the game, but Coach Zito came to his defence, insisting the forward was let down by a lack of quality service rather than poor effort.
“We need to ask ourselves how many passes he actually received,” Zito told Peace FM. “It’s like being asked to prepare palmnut soup without the necessary ingredients. He didn’t get enough supply to make an impact.”
The Kotoko boss also highlighted the striker’s tireless work rate and off-the-ball movement as a key positive, even if it didn’t result in a goal.
“He kept running, pressing, and trying to create opportunities. Maybe he didn’t perform to the expectations some had, but the pressing alone was valuable. In modern football, if you can’t press, you can’t play,” Zito explained.
“We were all expecting Kwame to score—he’s a number 9. But when strikers don’t score, people often assume they didn’t perform. I think he did well, and if he brings this level of energy and confidence into the league, it will be a big plus for us at Kotoko.”
The Unity Cup match served as part of Ghana's preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with the Black Stars set to return to action in September against Chad and Mali.
