Frank Akoto

Frank Akoto
Personal information
Full name Frank Akoto
Date of birth (1997-11-17) 17 November 1997
Place of birth Ghana
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 One Taguig
Number 3
Youth career
Fantomas FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2019 Heart of Lions
2019–2022 Ashanti Gold 50 (3)
2023–2025 Legon Cities 55 (3)
2026– One Taguig 7 (4)
International career
2019 Ghana U23
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4:32, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

Frank Akoto (born 17 November 1997) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Philippines Football League club One Taguig.[1][2]

Career

Youth career

Akoto played youth football in Ghana for Fantomas FC, and also had a short spell playing in the United Arab Emirates.[3] At just 15 years old, he signed with Heart of Lions, serving the club for seven seasons and becoming its captain.[4]

Ashanti Gold

In 2019, Akoto moved from Hearts of Lions to Ashanti Gold in the Ghana Premier League.[5][6] After a few seasons at the club, he was part of a controversy after he and several other players were accused of match fixing in a game against Inter Allies. In 2022, the Ghana Football Association hit the club with automatic relegation, suspending Akoto and several players for two years.[7] A year later, however, the case was overturned and his suspension was lifted.[8][9]

Looking to get back into football, Akoto signed with Legon Cities, becoming one of the club's most reliable defenders.[10][11] However, Akoto departed the club in 2025 after the club were relegated at the end of the 2024–25 season.[12]

One Taguig

Akoto signed for One Taguig of the Philippines Football League in 2025, playing alongside former Ashanti Gold teammate Isaac Opoku Agyemang.[13] He made his debut in a win against Kaya–Iloilo, scoring a header to win the game.[14] In the first seven games of the season, he scored four goals.[15]

International career

Ghana U23

While serving as captain of Hearts of Lions, Akoto was called up to the Ghana under-23 national team as part of a local training camp before the 2019 Africa U23 Cup of Nations.[16] He scored in a friendly,[17] but narrowly missed out on the final squad.

References

  1. ^ Frank Akoto at Soccerway
  2. ^ "Frank Akoto - Global Sports Archive". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  3. ^ Yakubu, Mutala (31 July 2019). "Hearts of Lions captain Frank Akoto eyes Ghana U23 call up". Prime News Ghana. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  4. ^ Abacha, Saani (31 December 2019). "Match Report: Hearts of Lions 2-0 Kotoku Royals - Watertight Lions Pick 15th Clean Sheet in 16 Games to Join Last 8". 442gh. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  5. ^ "AshantiGold SC snap up versatile Frank Akoto". Ghanasoccernet. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  6. ^ Gyamera, Ashes (31 December 2019). "Exclusive: Meet Frank Akoto; last player to join Ashanti Gold in a decade". Ashesgyamera.com. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  7. ^ Mokoko, Mbali (16 May 2022). "Ashanti Gold demoted to second division". Supersport. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  8. ^ Manso, Evans (27 July 2023). "CAS quashes GFA's ban on 22 Ashgold, Inter Allies players over alleged match-fixing". Citi Newsroom. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  9. ^ Eli, Ahashie (27 July 2023). "CAS vs Ghana's FA: Today is the happiest day of my life – EX-AshantiGold Player Frank Akoto responds to verdict". Happy Ghana. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Legon Cities clash with Heart of Lions Monday". Ghana Football Association. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  11. ^ Agyemang, Nana (9 September 2024). ""We lost but we gave a strong fight" – Legon Cities defender Frank Akoto after Goldstars loss". Sports World Ghana. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Legon Cities Captain Frank Akoto Issues Heartfelt Apology Following Relegation". OTEC FM Ghana. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  13. ^ "Welcome to Taguig, Akoto!". One Taguig FC on Facebook. 31 October 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  14. ^ "ASEAN Wrap: Melbourne City impress; JDT set new record; Buriram show grit". Asian Football Confederation. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  15. ^ de Guzman, Icko (17 February 2026). "Kaya-Iloilo romps past Tuloy, tightens grip on PFL summit". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  16. ^ Shaibu, Abdullah (11 October 2019). "2019 AFCON U-23: Coach Ibrahim Tanko Names All-Local 18 Man Squad". Ghana Football News. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Black Meteors wallop Star Makers FC 5-0 in friendly". Ghanaweb. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
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