Asante Kotoko claimed the 2025 Toyota Cup in dramatic fashion, defeating Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 on penalties after a tense 0-0 draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban – South Africa.
The match lacked goals but both sides showed flashes of promise in this pre-season clash. It was the Porcupine Warriors who held their nerve in sudden-death to secure the second edition of the Cup.
Chiefs began the game with more intensity, pinning Kotoko back in the early exchanges. But the momentum was disrupted by frequent fouls and a choppy playing surface that killed rhythm on both sides.
The best opportunity came late in the game. Chiefs won a penalty with seven minutes left, and Inacio Miguel, their trusted spot-kick taker, stepped up. But the Angolan missed the target, dragging his effort wide of Mohamed Camara’s post.
That miss would haunt Chiefs as the game went to penalties. The shootout mirrored the scrappy match, with nerves high and finishes wild. Chiefs missed four of their attempts, including Miguel’s second from the spot.
Kotoko kept their composure. They converted when it mattered most, and Camara stood tall to deny Chiefs in sudden death. The travelling Ghanaian fans erupted as the final kick sealed the win.
The result gives Kotoko a strong morale boost ahead of the new season which will see them also play in the CAF Confederation Cup. For Chiefs, it’s a reminder that fine margins still matter and that penalty ghosts still linger.
