2002 CAF Winners Cup: Hearts of Oak worked against us spiritually – Former Kotoko striker Kwadwo Poku ‘Mahala’
More than two decades have passed since that fateful day in Kumasi, but for Kwadwo Poku Mahala, the bitter memories of Asante Kotoko’s 2002 CAF Winners Cup final defeat to Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club still burn deeply. Now a retired footballer and club owner, Mahala recently opened up in a heartfelt interview with journalist Akakpo Agodji, recounting the pain of coming so close to continental glory — only to have it snatched away, not just by the opponents on the pitch, but, as he insists, by the invisible hands of their fiercest rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak.
In Ghanaian football, few rivalries run as deep and emotionally charged as that between Asante Kotoko SC and Accra Hearts of Oak SC. Often described as a “football war,” this rivalry transcends the sport itself, weaving through culture, regional pride, politics, and even the spiritual realm. For Poku Mahala, the events of 2002 exemplified how the rivalry with Hearts extended far beyond banter and bragging rights — reaching, in his view, into realms of unseen influence that shaped the outcome of one of the biggest matches of his career.
The 2002 CAF Winners Cup: A Glorious Opportunity Lost
Asante Kotoko’s journey to the final of the 2002 CAF Winners Cup (now absorbed into the CAF Confederation Cup) was marked by grit, talent, and national pride. The Kumasi-based giants had battled their way through multiple rounds of African competition, rekindling memories of the club’s illustrious past — a past that includes two CAF Champions League titles (1970 and 1983) and a reputation as one of Africa’s premier clubs.
The final pitted them against Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco, a formidable side with a rich continental pedigree. The first leg, held in Morocco, ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat for Kotoko — a respectable scoreline that left everything to play for in the return leg at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
With thousands of fans packing the stadium and the nation holding its breath, Kotoko entered the second leg with belief and determination. But what was supposed to be a celebration of Ghanaian football turned into a nightmare. Despite managing a 2-2 draw on the day, the away goal rule handed the trophy to Wydad, who walked away with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Mahala: “That loss still hurts”
In his recent reflection, Mahala did not shy away from expressing the personal pain and national disappointment of that moment.
“I was very disappointed personally as a player when we failed to win the 2002 CAF Winners Cup. Winning it would have cemented my name as an Asante Kotoko legend forever,” he said.
For Mahala and many of his teammates, that match represented more than just a shot at silverware — it was an opportunity to enter the pantheon of Kotoko greats, to restore the club’s continental dominance, and to achieve immortality in the eyes of the adoring fans.
He lamented that everything seemed to have been done correctly from a tactical and preparation standpoint. The team had shown promise in the away leg, and expectations were sky-high for the return in Kumasi. But somehow, the dream slipped away.
“We as a team did everything right to get the title considering the first leg result away, but things like what happened in the second leg happen in football.”
The Role of Spiritual Rivalry
What set Mahala’s interview apart was his bold assertion that Accra Hearts of Oak, Kotoko’s age-old rivals, had a hand in their misfortune — not on the pitch, but through spiritual interference.
“Hearts of Oak played a major role in denying us the title. Due to the rivalry, they backed our opponent spiritually and gave them some directions leading to our disadvantage,” he claimed.
In Ghanaian and broader African football culture, spiritual warfare is not an uncommon talking point.
Mahala’s comments reflect this belief system and offer a window into how deeply the Kotoko-Hearts rivalry penetrates the mindset of players — not just as competitors, but as representatives of broader forces in Ghanaian society.
“In football, you cannot overlook such rivalry — it happens even in European football,” he added, trying to place his claims within a broader global context.
The Hearts-Kotoko Rivalry: Ghana’s Eternal Divide
The Accra Hearts of Oak vs. Asante Kotoko rivalry is more than a football contest. It’s a clash of ideologies, cities, and histories — Kumasi versus Accra, Ashanti tradition versus coastal cosmopolitanism. Every fixture between the two teams carries the weight of decades of hostility, competition, and pride.
Fans from both camps will often recall moments of alleged spiritual manipulations, pitch invasions, controversial refereeing decisions, and mysterious pre-match rituals. Whether substantiated or not, these narratives contribute to the mythology of the rivalry and keep its fire burning season after season.
For Mahala, losing such a pivotal continental final — and doing so at home — only deepened the scars of that rivalry.
Kotoko’s Continental Drought
Since that 2002 final, Asante Kotoko have continued to compete on the African continent but have struggled to replicate the heights of the past. Despite multiple appearances in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, the Porcupine Warriors have failed to reach another final.
The last two decades have seen the club cycle through numerous coaches, players, and administrators in a bid to reclaim continental glory. But with rising competition across Africa, particularly from North African and West African clubs, the dream has remained elusive.
As Mahala noted, Kotoko were once crowned “Africa’s Club of the Century” by the IFFHS — a title that reflects their rich history and early dominance. However, the long continental drought since 2004 has been a painful reminder of how hard it is to stay at the top without consistent planning, investment, and unity.
Legacy and the Power of Memory
For players like Kwadwo Poku Mahala, the 2002 CAF Winners Cup was more than a match. It was a defining chapter in a footballing journey — one that could have ended in glory but instead ended in heartache. The sense of “what could have been” continues to linger, amplified by the belief that unseen forces, fueled by rival hatred, tipped the scales at the final moment.
His reflections serve as a reminder of the emotional weight football carries in Ghana — how matches become memories, memories become myths, and myths fuel future rivalries.
As Kotoko prepare for yet another season, this time set to participate in the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup, Mahala’s story is a timely one. It’s a call to current players to understand the stakes, the pride, and the history they carry each time they wear the red jersey. It’s also a reminder to fans that football, especially in Ghana, is not just a sport — it’s spiritual, historical, and deeply personal.
