Milot Pokuaa's 61st-minute winner beat Ampem Darkoa and capped a comeback her own coach admits some had stopped believing in.
Ghanaian women's football has a new symbol of resilience. Milot Abena Pokuaa, written off by some after a long spell on the sidelines, scored the only goal as Hasaacas Ladies beat Ampem Darkoa Ladies 1-0 to win the Champion of Champions trophy at the Otumfuo Astro Turf in Dichemso, Kumasi.
The forward struck in the 61st minute to settle a tight contest, and the win carried extra weight for the Doo Ladies. Ampem Darkoa had beaten them 2-1 in the Women's Premier League final earlier this year, so this was a chance to settle the score.
For coach Raymond Fenny, though, the goal was about more than silverware. He admitted he still gets emotional when he talks about Pokuaa, because her road back was far from easy. She had been at the peak of her powers when injury struck. While she was recovering, she also lost her mother. Fenny was candid that, at some point, some people around her had stopped believing she would return to her best.
Pokuaa proved them wrong with her mental strength. Fenny said the club is deeply grateful to God for keeping her safe and bringing her through the toughest stretch of her career. She suffered a serious knee injury in 2021 while at Hasaacas, and the trophy-winning goal in Kumasi was a fitting answer to years of pain and doubt.
