Zito brushes off sack talk as Kotoko FA Cup exit heaps pressure ahead of Super Clash

By: Bernard Mensah

February 9, 2026

Asante Kotoko head coach Karim Zito has played down growing calls for his dismissal, insisting it is too early to judge his work despite the club’s FA Cup heartbreak and uneven league campaign.

The former Dreams FC trainer is under increasing scrutiny following Kotoko’s inconsistent run in the Ghana Premier League, which has left the Porcupine Warriors fifth on the table with 35 points after 21 matches, eight points behind leaders Medeama SC.

Pressure on Zito deepened on Sunday when Kotoko’s hopes of silverware this season suffered a major setback. The Kumasi giants were knocked out of the FA Cup by Aduana FC, losing 4–2 on penalties after a goalless stalemate at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Discontent among sections of the fanbase had been brewing even before the Round of 16 encounter, but Zito remains defiant. Speaking on Asempa FM ahead of the tie, the coach urged supporters to stay patient, stressing that the team is still working towards its objectives.

“Calls for my dismissal are premature. I ask the fans to support the team as we hope to achieve our target,” he said.

With the FA Cup now gone — a competition many saw as Kotoko’s clearest path to a trophy — attention is shifting squarely to the league and the club’s next assignment. All eyes will be on Zito when Kotoko face arch-rivals Hearts of Oak in the much-anticipated Super Clash on Sunday, February 14, at the Baba Yara Stadium.

For the Kotoko boss, the derby now looms not just as a battle for bragging rights, but potentially a defining moment in his tenure.