The opening matches of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League campaign takes place across seven centres on Sunday September 8, 2024 with plenty of mouth-watering fixtures to look forward to.
Giants Asante Kotoko SC, Accra Hearts of Oak, Medeama SC, Aduana FC and debutants Young Apostles and Basake Holy Stars are all in action on matchday-1 of the 2024-25 Premier League in what promises to be riveting campaign.
Hearts of Oak Redemption
Hearts of Oak will hope to rewrite the scripts when they entertain Premier League new boys, Basake Holy Stars at home on Sunday, September 8, 2024 with a lot at stake for the Ghanaian giants.
The Phobians will be aiming to sing a different song this campaign after surviving relegation on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season. They host Basake Holy Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium. Kick off 15:00 GMT (3pm local time).
The Phobians were the second weakest home side last season despite their success in their first home game against Nsoatreman FC.
The Accra powerhouse will seek to restore positivity and a good start into the new season by recording their first win at home over Basake Holy Stars - a newly promoted side that are yet to have a feel of the top tier.
But the debutant won't be pushovers after emerging winners of Zone Two of the Access Bank Division One League.
Hearts of Oak have played newly promoted sides at home 10 times, winning 7, drawing 2 and losing 1 to Real Tamale United.
Hearts coach Aboubakar Ouattara has revamped the squad that nearly got relegated from the Ghanaian top-flight last season. They will be without former stars Salifu Ibrahim, Issah Kuka, Glid Otanga, Linda Mtange, Richmond Ayi and a host of others, who have left the Premier League giants.
However, the likes of Yahaya Adraman, Kwabena Boateng, Mawuli Wayo, Ramzy Yussif, Asamoah Boateng Afriyie, Micheal Awuah Mensah, Benjamin Asare, Samuel Amofa, last season's club top scorer, Hamza Issah, Raphael Amponsah, Yaw Amankwaah Baafi, Isaac Frimpong, Martin Marikari, Kassim Cisse, Kelvin Osei Asibey and David Oppong Afrane are all available for the Phobians on Sunday.
Basake Holy Stars can rely on their star man Abdul Hussein Bashiru and the likes of Gabriel Appiah, Francis Oteng, Andrews Nana, Prince Tweneboah, Abubakar Konda Adams, Abdul Adams, Francis Adjei, Prince Opoku, Daniel Adjei, Ben Sidebe and Sylvester Simba for the epic match at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Asante Kotoko stern test
Asante Kotoko travel to the Naa Sheriga Sports Complex on Sunday to face-off against Karela United on matchday-1 of the Ghana Premier League.
The Porcupine Warriors will aim to wrestle the title from FC Samartex 1996 as they kick starts their campaign on the road.
Coach Dr. Prosper Nartey Ogum will come under scrutiny after he parted ways with 17 players at the end of the campaign last term.
A number of high profile players including former captain Danlad Ibrahim as well as Kalo Ouattara, Nicholas Osei Bonsu, Isaac Oppong, Augustine Agyapong, Nicholas Mensah, John Tedeku, Sherif Mohammed, George Mfegue, Serge Eric Zeze and Moise Pouaty all left the club.
But there have been replacements too, largely touted as decent. Samuel Tenedu, Lord Amoah, Emmanuel Antwi, Joseph Ablorh, Albert Amoah, Abdulrahman Abdulkarim, Ndongani Samba Gilbani, Patrick Asiedu, Saaka Dauda, Esmat Abdulhamid and Elvis Baffour as well as Nigerian winger Fernando Wisdom Bassey have been brought in to restore energy.
Pressure, a dominant commodity for Asante Kotoko players and officials, will be in full swing this season amid widespread expectation from their teeming fans.
As Asante Kotoko embarks on a new season, there is a definitely room for improvement on last term’s 6th placed finish with 14 wins, 7 draws and 13 defeats. Even though the Porcupine Warriors lost their first away league match last season to Bibiani Gold Stars (2-1), they accumulated the most points (19) away heading into the season.
Asante Kotoko looks forward to erase all their errors that cost them last season and judging by their pre-season form, they should be ready to do battle.
Karela United managed 12 wins, 10 draws and 12 defeats last season. The Tamale based won their first home league match against Berekum Chelsea with a 3-1 score line and were among the best performers at home last season securing 34 points.
The Pride and Passion have played Asante Kotoko four times at home in the league since 2020/21 season, with Karela United winning two, drawing one and losing one. In the 2020/21 season, Karela United suffered a 0-2 defeat to Asante Kotoko, drew goalless in the 2021/22 season, won 1-0 in the 2022/23 season and repeated same score line in the 2023/24 season.
Karela United have brought in new legs while sticking with the core of the group that survived the drop on the final day of the Premier League. The likes of Benjamin York, Mohammed Abubakar, Fidaus Mohammed, Alhassan Ali, Najib Fuseini Ibrahim, Awudu Mohammed, Faisal Gariba, Victor Aidoo, Abdul Basit, Solomon Aboagye, Emmanuel Anaful, Samuel Asiedu and Giyasu Ibrahim are all fit and ready for the game on Sunday.
Young Apostles Premier League bow
Young Apostles are set to make their Ghana Premier League debut when they travel to Nsuatre to battle Nsoatreman FC on Sunday September 8, 2024.
The Access Bank Division One League Zone One B winners, will be aiming to cause an upset when they play as guest of Yaw Preko's side.
They were the second best away side in Zone One B. As new beginners in the top tier, they are much enthused for their opener on Sunday and will aim to make dismiss their underdog tag in their first ever Premier League encounter.
Nsoatreman FC made the ideal start to their competitive campaign by beating Chad side Elect Sports in both legs in the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup preliminary stage.
They’ve now switched focus to the Premier League where they will take on Zone One champions Young Apostles, the newly promoted side in their first league game at home. Nsoatreman FC, which clinched the 2023-24 MTN FA Cup crown, managed to accumulate 50 points last season and finished 5th on the league table.
Despite winning 9 of their last season home league games, Nsoatreman FC were not part of the top 10 best home clubs. The Nsoatre lads won their first home league match against Bechem United last season. They envision getting same results against the newly promoted side Young Apostles FC at the Nana Kronamansah Park on Sunday.
Stephan Diyou and Collins Kudjoe are expected to lead the attack for Nsoatreman FC on Sunday. The likes of Eric Osei Bonsu, Mohammed Issaka, Oblitey Commey, Walid Fuseini, Ebenezer Sekyere, Richard Acquah, Micheal Ballack Acka, Benjamin Tsivanyo, Mohammed Abdul Rahman, Emmanuel Ankrah and Iddrisu Shaibu are all available for the game on Sunday.
Young Apostles boasts Randolph Akwesi Nti, Daniel Lomotey, Mohammed Moftaw, Kassim Sule, Issah Hussein, Gabriel Asampana, Samuel Prempeh, Ramzy Abubakar, Hafiz Bawa, Rauf Munah, Iddrisu Huziaf and Prince Kesse, who are all available for the club's Premier league debut.
Nations FC, GoldStars FC & Aduana FC at home
Nations FC entertain Bechem United at home on Sunday in what promises to be an exciting return of the 2024-24 Ghana Premier League.
Coach Kassim Mingle will be aiming to emerge victorious against his former club when the two teams meet at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex at Abrankese.
Nations impressed at the start of last season but faltered in the heat of the title race, eventually won by FC Samartex 1996.
GoldStars FC welcome Legon Cities to the Duns Park in Bibiani in a cagey opening day contest of the new Premier League season.
The miners secured their top-flight status after a difficult campaign last term- a situation Coach Frimpong Manso seeks to avoid.
Legon Cities coach Paa Kwesi Fabian has kept the core of the team that featured last season and will be aiming to start on a positive note.
Aduana FC host Heart of Lions at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park on Sunday September 8, 2024, in a high stake game for both teams.
Aduana finished 4th last season while their opponents escaped relegation on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season.
TnA Stadium buzz for Medeama SC
Buzz has reached a crescendo in Tarkwa as Medeama SC take on Accra Lions at the brand new state-of-the-art Tarkwa And Aboso Stadium in the last match of matchday-1 of the 2024-25 Premier League on Sunday night.
The new-look TnA Stadium, will host the side's first Premier League match in five years since the club last played at the now modern 10,400 capacity facility.
The former Ghanaian champions aim to utilize the new stadium after being forced to play away from home since 2019.
Previously, they had been using the Akoon Community Park, but the club returns 'home' to battle Accra Lions in what is expected to be an exciting contest. Kick off 18:00GMT(6pm local time).
The two teams shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 stalemate last season at the Akoon Community Park, setting the tone for an eventful night in the mining town.
GFA Communications