Emmanuel Akuoko (born 10 January 1983) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He played for Ghanaian Premier League side Aduana Stars for majority of his career. [1] [2] He previously played for Kuwaiti side Burgan.
Akuoko started his career with Dormaa-based club Aduana Stars in September 2007. He was part of the squad that won the Ghana Division One League and got promoted to the Ghana Premier League in August 2009, the first time in the club's history. He helped the club win their first Premier League title in their inaugural season during the 2009–10 season with Herbert Addo as head coach, setting numerous records in the process including setting a world record for least productive champions with 19 goals in 30 matches equalling it with an average of 0.6333 goals per match. [3] [4] [5]
As at 2015, he had been serving as club captain of the club. [5] [6] [7] He served as the captain and played a key role in helping them lift their second league title during the 2017 Ghana Premier League. [1] [8] From 2018, he has been serving as the general captain of the side, with Yahaya Mohammed, Joseph Addo and Paul Aidoo all serving as team captains at one point in time. [9] [8] [10] [11]
On 5 August 2019 Akuoko joined Kuwaiti team Burgan. He joined defender former Aduana Stars teammate Bright Adjei who also signed for the club days ago. [12] [3]
Akuoko's move to Burgas SC took a snag and he returned to his former club Aduana Stars in December 2019. [13] [4] In May 2020, at the age of 37 years, he mentioned in an interview that he was not ready to hang his boots rather he had 5–6 years more on his playing career and ruled out retirement from football after 2025. [4] [14] [15]
Akuoko received call-ups to the Ghana A' national football team, the Local Black Stars team in 2011 and 2015. [16] [17] [18] [19]
Akuoko mainly plays as a central defender but has the ability to play across the back four and as a defensive midfielder. [12]
In 2020, Akuoko revealed his dream of becoming a professional football agent after retiring from playing football. [20] He put up a five a five bedroom house in Kumasi, the capital town of the Ashanti Region through the help of the club's bank roller Omanhene of Dormaa Osaagyefo Oseadeeyo Nana Agyeman Badu II. [21] [22]
Aduana Stars
Aduana Football Club is a professional football club, based in Dormaa Ahenkro, Bono Region, Ghana. The club is competing in the Ghanaian Premier League. It made history by winning the Ghana Premier League at their first attempt with 53 points. It became the ninth club to win the Ghana Premier League in its 54-year-old history.
Godfred Saka is a Ghanaian professional footballer who is best known for playing as a right-back for Aduana Stars and the Ghana national football team. He went on to play for Karela United and Accra Great Olympics. He served as captain for Aduana Stars and Karela United. Saka played for Aduana Stars for 8 years and was included in the team for the Ghana Premier League that was won in the 2009–10 season and the 2017 season. At the international level, he represented Ghana for four major tournaments, playing and winning the WAFU Nations Cup in 2013, at two African Nations Championship tournament in 2014 and 2016 and the COSAFA Cup in 2015.
Ishaku Konda is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Jablonec in Fortuna Liga.
Ibrahim Larry Sumaila is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ghanaian Premier league side Accra Hearts of Oak.
Wahab Adams is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as defender for Ethiopian Premier League side Wolkite Ketema. He previously played for Ghanaian clubs Aduana Stars and Asante Kotoko.
Ibrahim Osman is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as forward for Ghana Premier League side Asante Kotoko S.C. He previously played for Liberty Professionals and King Faisal Babes.
Fatawu Abdulrahman is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ghanaian Premier League side Aduana Stars. He previously played for Techiman City. Abdulrahman won the Ghana Premier League in his debut season with Aduana Stars in 2017.
Isaac Kwain is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ghanaian Premier League side Aduana Stars. He previously played for Karela United, Ebusua Dwarfs and Real Tamale United.
Hafiz Adams is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ghanaian Premier League side Real Tamale United. He previously played for and captained Wa All Stars to their first league title in 2016.
Sam Adams is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ghanaian Premier League side Aduana Stars. Adams won the Ghana Premier League in 2017 and the Ghana Super Cup in 2018 during his first stint with Aduana Stars. He joined Asante Kotoko in December 2019 but left after 8 months after his contract was terminated only to rejoin Aduana Stars in 2020.
Bright Adjei is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Tanzanian Premier League side Singida Big Stars. He won the Ghana Premier League in his second season with Aduana Stars. He previously played for Tema Youth and Kuwaiti side Burgan.
Oba Ikama Ulitch is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Tunisian Premier League side US Ben Guerdane.
Charles Kamara Gyamfi is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ghanaian Premier League side Aduana Stars.
Samuel Bioh is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ghanaian Premier League side Aduana Stars. He previously played for Tema Youth, Medeama SC and Sudanese side Al Khartoum.
Noah Martey is a Ghanaian professional footballer who lasted played as a midfielder for Ghanaian Premier League side Aduana Stars. He previously playing for Bechem United.
Justice Anane is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ghanaian Premier League side Legon Cities. He previously playing for Dormaa-based team Aduana Stars and Berekum Chelsea.
Adams Farouk is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ghanaian Premier League side Aduana Stars. He previously playing for Bibiani Gold Stars and Elmina Sharks.
The 2021–22 Ghana Premier League was the 66th season of the top professional association football league in Ghana which began on 29 October 2021 and concluded on 19 June 2022. Hearts of Oak were the defending champions.
Moro Sumaila is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays as a winger for Ghana Premier League side Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs.
Dennis Kodwo Nkrumah-Korsah is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays as a left-back for Ghana Premier League side Hearts of Oak. He previously played for Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs, whom he captained.