The juvenile side of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, the Young Porcupines, have earned promotion to the Ashanti Regional Second Division after an impressive and unbeaten campaign in the 2025/26 Ashanti Region Division Three League.
The Young Porcupines were established during the early stages of the outgoing Interim Management Committee (IMC) administration of the club, with the aim of nurturing young talents for the future of Asante Kotoko.
The team competed in the Third Division, which is the lowest tier of football within the Ghana football structure.
Former Vision FC coach Hamza Obeng, who was appointed in June 2025 as assistant coach to Karim Zito, also took charge of the Young Porcupines for the 2025/26 season.
He worked alongside assistants Akwasi Kusi and former Kotoko goalkeeper Eric Nii Baah, who served as the goalkeepers’ trainer.
Under their guidance, the Young Porcupines enjoyed a remarkable season, completing the league phase unbeaten in 11 matches.
The team won nine games, scored 28 goals, and conceded only seven, earning qualification to the Ashanti Region Division Three Middle League Play-Offs.
Following the official Round of 32 draw announced on May 12, the Young Porcupines needed three consecutive victories to secure promotion to the Second Division.
Their journey began with a convincing victory over Kumasi Royal Priesthood, with goals from Lawson Kyei Manu and Benjamin Owusu Ansah sealing qualification to the Round of 16.
The team continued their dominant form with a resounding 6-0 triumph over S.S. Europa in the Round of 16, keeping a clean sheet in the process to book a place in the Division Three Play-Off final against Agya Football Club.
The historic promotion was finally secured on Thursday at the Sofoline Astroturf when Anthony Duah scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute of a tense encounter.
His late strike separated the two sides and confirmed the Young Porcupines’ elevation to the Ashanti Regional Second Division, marking a major achievement for the club’s youth development project.
