Asante Kotoko are through to the quarterfinals of the Special Cup after squeezing out a win against Nkoranza Warrior at the Baba Yara Stadium, while Hearts of Oak suffer shock defeat against UniStar Academy at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Nii Adjei and Augustine Sefah were the Heros for Asante Kotoko in Kumasi as they scale through to the next stage of the Special Cup.

Hearts of Oak lost 4-5 on penalties against UniStar Academy at home in a game that ended 1-1 in normal time.

Round of 16 full results:

AshGold 2-1 New Edubiase

Medeama 9-8 Samartex (pk)

Kotoko 2-1 Nkoranza Warriors

Berekum Arsenals 3-2 BA United

Liberty 2-4 Proud United (pk)

Hearts 4-5 UniStar (pk)

Heart of Lions 2-0 Kotoku Royals

Nzema Kotoko 3-0 Vision FC

The round 16 of the Normalization Committee’s Special Cup will kick off at 3pm on Sunday 2nd of June at all expected venues.

Asante Kotoko will welcome Nkoranza Warriors at the Baba Yara Stadium as they will look to continue with their winning form after knocking out Real Tamale United in the last round.

Hearts of Oak will welcome UniStar Academy at the Accra Sports Stadium and will look to secure a win to move to the next stage of the competition.

Full Fixtures:

Ashanti Gold vs New Edubiase

Medeama Sc vs Samartex

Asante Kotoko vs Nkoranza Warriors

BA United vs Berekum Arsenals

Liberty vs Proud United

Accra Hearts of Oak vs UniStar Academy

Heart of Lions vs Kotoku Royals

Nzema Kotoko vs Vision FC **(Nzema Kotoko won 3-0)

Hearts of Oak are through to the last 16 of the NC Special up after beating Uncle T 4-2 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday morning.

Uncle T took the lead in the 42nd minute but Joseph Esso pegged them back just two minutes later to restore parity.

Christopher Bonney scored a penalty in the 60th minute to put his team in front, the lead lasted for only two minutes as Uncle T equalized in the 62nd minute.

Late Goals from Obeng Jnr and Kofi Kordzi was enough to push Hearts of Oak into the next round of the Special Cup.

Asante Kotoko fans are having mixed feelings about the Ivorian Import; some are asking the club to offload him, while some believe he needs time to settle in the club.

The Ivorian striker joined the Porcupines on a free transfer in January before the CAF Confederation Cup Campaign and made his debut against Zesco United.

Dany Zabo hasn’t shown his qualities to the fans as he’s struggled since his signing. The striker went out injured early April and made his return in the Otumfuo Cup against Asec Mimosas were he failed to impress.

Fans voiced out their concerns following his penalty miss against Real Tamale United in the NC Special Cup on Wednesday at the Baba Yara Stadium.

One said “That guy can’t play for Kotoko we must show him the exit”, while another said “Big yes, He lacks confidence”

In his defence, another fan tweeted “I heard he scored but his goal was disallowed for offside, He needs more time”

That guy can't play for Kotoko we must show him the exit

— Solo Kotoko AK-00671 (@SolomonsarfoN1) May 29, 2019

I heard he scored but his goal was disallowed for offside. He needs more time to settle in.

— Owusu Brempong (AK-0011788) (@Kwaminho) May 29, 2019

He lacks confidence

— @Bra Jaiden (@BraJaiden1) May 29, 2019

Nope. I think he's not a good fit. We've been through the #CAFCC plus the NC group phase with him having next to no impact. Let's cut our losses, shall we?

— Nokware Deduamni (@kanabus) May 30, 2019

we need to give players more time to pick their form.

— Ps. Devrim (@Kweku53095231) May 30, 2019

Asante Kotoko are through to the last 16 after beating Real Tamale United 3-1 at the Baba Yara Stadium on Wednesday.

The Porcupines avoided a potential banana slip after registering an important win in Kumasi, thanks to goals from Kwame Boahene, Nii Adjei and Ganiyu.

Here are the results of other Special Cup games:

Ashantigold 1-0 Young Apostles

Medeama 2-1 Bibiani Gold stars

Asante Kotoko 3-1 Real Tamale United

Aduana Stars 2-2 Berekum Arsenal (Berekum Arsenal won on penalties)

BA United 2-1 Kintampo

Elmina Sharks 0-1 Heart of Lions

Mighty Jets 1-3 Proud United

Karela United 1-1 Nzema Kotoko (Nzema won on penalties)

Remaining games will be played on Thursday.

Kotoko will be without the services of Songne Yacouba, Stephen Nyarko and Evans Owusu for the tier-two opener at home to Real Tamale United on Wednesday, confirms coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor.

The Porcupines suffered a triple whammy in their 1-0 win over ASEC Mimosas on Sunday when the striker, midfielder, and defender respectively, were forced off the pitch to injuries.

C. K. Akonnor tells Kotoko Media the trio will not be fit in time to make the squad when the Porcupines play hosts to the division-one side in the Normalisation Committee novelty competition.

“Yacouba is not fit and so cannot play”, confirms C. K. Akonnor in his usual pre-match team news to Kotoko Media. “Nyarko cannot also play, same Evans.”

“The three players, who picked up up injuries last Sunday, are all out of Wednesday’s game.”

“It is a big blow for us”, admits C. K. Akonnor as he discusses the after-effects of the injury situation. “We have a small squad and so the injuries have come to reduce an already small number of players.”

Asante Kotoko will host RTU in the Normalization Committee’s Special Cup, Hearts of Oak will play Uncle T while Ashantigold will welcome Young Apostles.

The draw was held on Sunday in Accra will some players and coaches present.

The winner of this competition will be representing Ghana in the next CAF Confederation Cup competition.

All matches will be played on 29th May 2019.

Here is the full draw: