Ashanti derby returns: Kotoko and FC AshantiGold 04 set to reignite Obuasi rivalry

Top-flight football is set for a long-awaited return to Obuasi after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) paired Asante Kotoko with newly promoted FC AshantiGold 04 in one of the standout fixtures of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season.

The first Ashanti Derby of the campaign will be played on Matchday Eight at the Len Clay Stadium, with the encounter scheduled between October 23 and 26, 2026. The reverse fixture will take place in Kumasi on Matchday 25, between March 12 and 15, 2027.

The fixture not only revives one of Ghana's most captivating regional rivalries but also marks the return of Premier League football to the historic mining town, where supporters have eagerly awaited the comeback of top-flight action.

For Asante Kotoko, the derby presents an early opportunity to underline their ambitions of returning to the summit of Ghanaian football. After a disappointing mid-table finish last season, the Porcupine Warriors enter the new campaign under the guidance of Eric Tinkler, who has been entrusted with rebuilding the club into genuine title contenders.

A positive result in Obuasi would provide an important statement of intent for Tinkler's side as they seek to re-establish themselves among the league's elite.

Meanwhile, FC AshantiGold 04 will embrace the occasion as they begin a new chapter in the Premier League. Playing in front of their home supporters, the newly promoted side will be eager to announce their arrival by claiming a memorable scalp against one of the country's most successful clubs.

The derby is expected to generate enormous excitement across the Ashanti Region, with local pride, regional supremacy and valuable league points all on the line.

With the atmosphere of Obuasi set to return to its vibrant best, the first Ashanti Derby of the season is already shaping up to be one of the marquee fixtures of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League calendar and a fitting celebration of the return of top-flight football to one of Ghana's most iconic football cities.

Top-flight football is set for a long-awaited return to Obuasi after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) paired Asante Kotoko with newly promoted FC AshantiGold 04 in one of the standout fixtures of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season.

The first Ashanti Derby of the campaign will be played on Matchday Eight at the Len Clay Stadium, with the encounter scheduled between October 23 and 26, 2026. The reverse fixture will take place in Kumasi on Matchday 25, between March 12 and 15, 2027.

The fixture not only revives one of Ghana's most captivating regional rivalries but also marks the return of Premier League football to the historic mining town, where supporters have eagerly awaited the comeback of top-flight action.

For Asante Kotoko, the derby presents an early opportunity to underline their ambitions of returning to the summit of Ghanaian football. After a disappointing mid-table finish last season, the Porcupine Warriors enter the new campaign under the guidance of Eric Tinkler, who has been entrusted with rebuilding the club into genuine title contenders.

A positive result in Obuasi would provide an important statement of intent for Tinkler's side as they seek to re-establish themselves among the league's elite.

Meanwhile, FC AshantiGold 04 will embrace the occasion as they begin a new chapter in the Premier League. Playing in front of their home supporters, the newly promoted side will be eager to announce their arrival by claiming a memorable scalp against one of the country's most successful clubs.

The derby is expected to generate enormous excitement across the Ashanti Region, with local pride, regional supremacy and valuable league points all on the line.

With the atmosphere of Obuasi set to return to its vibrant best, the first Ashanti Derby of the season is already shaping up to be one of the marquee fixtures of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League calendar and a fitting celebration of the return of top-flight football to one of Ghana's most iconic football cities.

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