Ogum made the comparison after Opoku scored twice in Kotoko’s commanding 4-1 victory over Vision FC on Sunday at Baba Yara Stadium, during the Matchday 17 fixtures.

Mbella, who enjoyed a prolific 2021/22 season with Kotoko, scored 21 goals in 30 matches in the Ghana Premier League, earning a reputation as a lethal finisher.

Opoku, who previously played for Kotoko and netted seven goals in 16 appearances before moving to USM Alger, has returned for a second stint with the club.

Ogum commented on the similarity between the two players, saying, “He is a photocopy of him, he’s a replica of him, I mean in terms of goal-scoring.”

“Mbella is a killer. Opoku too has those instincts; he knows where he is in front of the goal, so to me, he is a photocopy of Mbella,” Ogum added.

Opoku’s brace helped Kotoko extend their unbeaten run to five games, lifting them to third place in the league standings, now just two points behind the leaders.

The victory saw Kotoko move up to 31 points, and they will next face Karela United, who are battling relegation, in their Matchday 18 fixture at Baba Yara Stadium.

His words come amidst the disappointing performances of the Porcupine Warriors during the latter half of the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League season.

Kotoko has managed only one win in their last eight matches, enduring six losses along the way.

With the team perilously close to the relegation zone, demands for coach Prosper Ogum, who previously led Kotoko to a league championship, to step down have intensified.

Ahead of Kotoko’s upcoming fixture against league leaders Samartex, Etouga, a cherished figure from his time with the Porcupine Warriors, rallied his former colleagues to uplift the team.

“I’ve been closely observing Kotoko’s situation, even though I’m not there physically. Nonetheless, I stay tuned to the club’s progress every week during their matches, and it’s evident they’re facing a tough period. Yet, I want to inspire my former teammates to shoulder responsibility and turn things around,” he said in an interview on Ghanasportspage.

Mbella, known for his significant contribution to the team’s success, netting 21 goals to secure the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League title, departed Kotoko to join Egyptian outfit Al Masry, leaving an indelible mark on the Ghanaian football scene. Presently, he is on loan at El Gouna.

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