Asante Kotoko have appointed Abdul Gazale as their new head coach two months after sacking Maxwell Konadu.

Johnson Smith was named interim coach following Konadu's dismissal and has been in charge since December 18.

Although Smith has done a good job with the Porcupine Warriors currently high-flying in the Ghana Premier League as they lead the table, Gazale has been entrusted with the top job.

Smith will revert back to his previous position of assistant coach.

They informed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) of their decision on Monday.

The GFA wrote on their website: "Asante Kotoko have today, February 8, 2021, notified the Ghana Football Association of the confirmation of the appointment of Coach Abdul Gazale, a CAF License "A" holder as the substantive head coach of the club."

"On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, the club was reminded of the expiry of the interim appointment and the need to confirm a substantive appointment on or before January 22, 2021, by the Association or risk being sanctioned."

Accordingly, the club has confirmed the appointment of Abdul Gazale as the head coach for both their domestic and continental competitions for the remainder of the 2020/21 season."

The club has however been asked to furnish the GFA with the contractual documents of this appointment in line with the club licensing regulations."

Gazale joined the technical bench of Kotoko shortly after coach Maxwell Konadu was given the job in 2019.

He will take charge of his first game this weekend when Kotoko host Algerian side ES Setif in the first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup playoff.