Asante Kotoko face a difficult task in their bid to return to winning ways when they host Young Apostles at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.

The Porcupine Warriors head into the fixture on the back of an away defeat against Swedru All Blacks, leaving them with two losses in their last three matches. The latest setback came in their second game since the surprise departure of head coach Eric Tinkler, with the club yet to fully recover from the upheaval.

The uncertainty has deepened following Director of Football Stanley Menzo’s decision to take a two-week break, raising further concerns among supporters about Kotoko’s ability to mount a serious title challenge. After six matches, they trail the league leaders by six points.

Hamza Obeng is currently in charge on an interim basis, but the circumstances have presented him with an unexpected challenge. Tinkler oversaw pre-season preparations and shaped the team ahead of the campaign, leaving Obeng with the task of maintaining stability while trying to establish his own authority.

Obeng can, however, draw encouragement from Kotoko’s victory over Karela United in their first match after Tinkler’s departure. Although the performance was far from convincing, they secured the points, but they will need a more complete display against a confident Young Apostles side.

The visitors ended a three-game winless run with a 1-0 victory over Aduana FC, a timely result after a difficult spell following their opening-day win against Basake Holy Stars. Having struggled to pick up victories in the intervening matches, Young Apostles will hope to build on that success and give Kotoko a stern test in Kumasi.

On paper, Kotoko appear to have the advantage, but their recent performances have offered little evidence of a team capable of consistently dominating opponents, even on home soil. Young Apostles could therefore approach Sunday's encounter believing they have a genuine chance of taking something from the game.

The match will be the fifth league meeting between the two sides, with Kotoko recording two victories and suffering no defeats against the club promoted in 2024.

That record adds another layer of pressure on the Porcupine Warriors, who will be expected to extend their positive run against Young Apostles. Anything short of a convincing result could intensify scrutiny of the club’s current situation and increase calls for decisive action.