Golden Kick Coach Nii Parker Hanson Slams Referee Over Controversial Penalty in FA Cup Final Defeat

Head coach of Golden Kick FC, Nii Parker Hanson, has voiced his frustration following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Asante Kotoko in the MTN FA Cup final, pointing to what he believes was an unjust penalty decision that denied his team a chance at making history.

The thrilling final, held at the University of Ghana Stadium on Sunday, saw Kwame Opoku put Kotoko in front with a 17th-minute header, before Bless Ege brought Golden Kick level with a sensational free-kick.

With the match seemingly headed for extra time, the turning point came in the 90th minute when referee Selorm Yao Bless awarded a controversial penalty to Kotoko after Opoku went down in the box under pressure from goalkeeper Kelvin Saaba.

Opoku stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick, sealing Kotoko’s 10th FA Cup title and securing a return to continental football via the CAF Confederation Cup.

Speaking after the match in an interview with Joy Sports, a visibly disappointed Coach Hanson questioned the referee’s decision-making process.

“It was not a penalty for me,” he said. “The referee decided. I don’t know what kept him [referee] long, who prompted him that it was a penalty.”

“If somebody prompted him, then on what grounds? We came here determined to win the game and make history, but the referee decided.”

The decision has sparked debate among fans and pundits, with many sympathising with Golden Kick, who put on a valiant performance throughout the match.

Despite the heartbreak, the lower-tier club earned plaudits for their tactical discipline and resilience, standing toe-to-toe with one of Ghana’s most decorated sides on a grand stage.