Former champions Asante Kotoko who are without a win in three consecutive league games (Karela United, Accra Lions and Aduana FC ) will clash with second placed Nations on Matchday 23 of the Ghana Premier League at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Asante Kotoko are 8th in the league table with 32 points after recording only one win in their last five Premier League games – 1 win, 1 draw and three defeats. The Porcupine Warriors have managed to accumulate 18 points, scoring 9 and conceded 6 - the 5th lowest in the league so far. They’ve won 4 and lost just 1 game in their last 5 home league matches played.
Nations FC moved to the second spot with 34 points on Matchday 22 following a 3-0 win over Berekum Chelsea at Abrankese - having won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 in their last 5 league games.
Ciach Kasim Mingles side have recorded 9 points, scoring 3 and conceded 9 league goals in 10 matches on the road – and boasts 3 wins and 2 losses in their last 5 away games.
The Porcupine Warriors are hosting Nations FC in the Premier League for the first time having drawn 2-2 at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports complex in the first leg.
Nine goal hero Stephen Mukwala Desse will miss the game on Sunday as he is currently on international duty with Uganda in Morocco. In his absence Kalo Ouattara is expected to lead the lines for Asante Kotoko on Sunday with the likes of Richmond Lamptey, Peter Acquah, Henry Ansu, Samuel Asamoah, Yahaya Baba, Justice Blay, Nicholas Bonsu, Andrews Ntim, Kalo Ouattara, Augustine Agyapong and Rocky Dwamena complimenting him.
Asante Kotoko will be without Coach Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum following his red card against Aduana FC.
Meanwhile joint scorer of the League Asamoah Boateng Afriyie (9 goals) will be available for selection after shaking off an illness to boost the squad ahead of this encounter as he aims to add to his 9 goals tally.
Micheal Awuah, Prince Badu, Nuamah Blankson, Emmanuel Boahene, Kwame Boakye, Richard Danso, Abdul Karim, Nafiu Sulemana and Razak Simpson are all available for the clash on Sunday.
The game will be broadcast live at 6pm on StarTimes Adepa channel 247.
At the Akoon Park, champions Medeama SC have an opportunity to climb up the log when they take on Dreams FC.
Medeama SC who recently exited the CAF Champions’ League are in dire need of points to enter the title race as they currently occupy the 10th position with 29 points – 13 points of the top.
The Yellow and Mauves have managed 20 points, scored 8 and conceded 3 goals in nine home games at Akoon Park.
Dreams FC are in the quarter final of the CAF Confederation Cup and have lost only once in their last five Ghana Premier games. The Still Believe lads are 14th in the league table with 27 points in spite of their recent form in the league.
In ten away games, Dreams FC have managed 8 points on the road scoring 5 and conceding 12 in the process as they go into the game with 3 defeats, 1 win and 1 draw in their last 5 away games.
Medeama SC have played Dreams FC three times at home in the league since 2020/21 season with Medeama SC winning twice and losing one. Medeama SC defeated Dreams FC 2-0 in 2020/21, lost 1-0 in the 2021/22 season before winning 3-2 in the 2022/23 season.
The Tarkwa lads will heavily rely on Baba Musah, Kamaradini Mamudu, Manuel Mantey, Diawisie Taylor, Osah Tetteh Bernardinho, Derrick Fordjour, Hamidu Abdul Fatawu, Micheal Enu, Kobina Amoah and Godfred Abban.
Agyenim Boateng Mensah is Dreams FC’s top scorer with 7 goals after netting 5 goals in his last 3 games to surpass Abdul Aziz Issah (6). Dreams FC will be without Ofori McCarthy, Abdul Aziz Issah and Emmanuel Agyei due to the trio’s participation in the African Games Men’s Football competition.
However Seth Agyemang, Erick Boateng, Benjamin Bature, Dede Ishmael, Abdul Jalilu, Sylvester Simba and Sulemana Suhiyini are available for the game.
The game will be broadcast live at 3pm on StarTimes Adepa channel 247 on Sunday.
Elsewhere in Berekum - Berekum Chelsea will host Bechem United in a derby at the Golden City Park.
Berekum Chelsea are 5th in the League table with 33 points after suffering a 3-0 away defeat to Nations FC last Sunday. They head into the game with 2 wins and 3 losses in their last 5 games and are still in contention for a top four place.
Bechem United are 6th in the table – only one point behind the host and boasts 2 wins and 3 defeats in their last 5 league games. Berekum Chelsea have accumulated 23 points, scored 11 and conceded only 2 goals and are the 6th club with most home points (10) home games.
Bechem United have also recorded 9 points, scored 9 and conceded 12 in 10 away games. The last three meetings between these sides have titled in favor of Berekum Chelsea. In the 2020/21 season, Berekum Chelsea beat Bechem United 2-0, drew 1-1 in the 2021/22 season before winning 1-0 in the 2022/23 season.
Stephen Amankonah has banged in 7 goals for Berekum Chelsea and is expected to start the game on Sunday with the likes of Afriyie Mezack, Emmanuel Sarpong, Frank Oppong, Flavien Kwasi, Zakaria Fuseini, Awuah Dramani, Lord Amoah and Collins Ameyaw all fit for selection.
Forward Cephas Mantey will lead the lines for Bechem United with the likes of Emmanuel Abban, Emmanuel Ababio, Francis Acquah, Emmanuel Annor, David Asabere, John Kinful, Samuel Kuffour, Seth Kwadwo and Isaiah Nyarko all available.
In Sunyani, relegation threatened Bofoakwa Tano will battle with Karela United at the Coronation Park.
Bofoakwa Tano who led the League table in the first five weeks of the campaign are currently 16th with 23 points – flying on the back of 1 win, 2 draws and 1 defeat in their last 5 games. Bofoakwa Tano have recorded the lowest home points (15), scored 6 and conceded 8 goals in 11 home games.
Karela United moved out of the relegation Zone after a 3-2 win over city rivals Real Tamale United as they currently occupy the 15th position in the league table with 27 points.
Saaka Dauda will be available for the game on Sunday as he hopes to extend his League tally (7). Bashiru Abu, Ali Alhassan, Emmanuel Ankrah, Emmanuel Agyenim, Najib Ibrahim, Solomon Obilitey, Elvis Opoku, Kelvin Oppong and Ado Zack are all available for selection.
Giyasu Ibrahim who netted the winner against Asante Kotoko contu=inued his fine scoring form with a brace against Real Tamale United. Also in the team are Solomon Aboagye, Rashid Alhassan, Emmanuel Anaful, Mohammed Asigre, Mohammed Awal, Abdul Latif, Fatawu Mohammed and Jibril Nurudeen.
This is the first time Bofoakwa Tano are playing Karela United in the Ghana Premier League at the Sunyani Coronation Park and only their second meeting in the League with the first leg ending goalless at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium.
At Dawu, Legon Cities will take on Nsoatreman FC who beat FC Medeama SC to return to winning ways after losing three consecutive games against Heart of Oak, Dreams FC and leaders FC Samartex 1996.
Legon Cities are currently 13th in the table with 28 points following their defeat to Bechem United. The Royals have won 1, drawn 1 and suffered 3 defeats in their last 5 league games.
Coach Samuel Fabin’s team have managed to pick up 20 points, scored 12 and conceded 9 goals in 10 home games and are unbeaten in their last 5 home matches in this campaign with 4 wins and one draw.
Nsoatreman FC go into the game with 33 points – as they sit in 4th place with two wins and three defeats in their last 5 games. Nsoatreman FC have managed 11 points, scored 8 and conceded 14 goals on the road.
Legon Cities have played Nsoatreman FC once at home in the league since the Nsoatre boys made their debut in the 2022/23 season with Legon Cities winning 3-2.
In Accra - Great Olympics will host two-time champions Aduana FC at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Dade Boys, 12th in the league table with 28 points have won 2, drawn 1 and suffered 2 defeats in their last 5 league games and have accumulated 20 home points – scored 9 and conceded 3 goals in 11 matches.
Olympics are unbeaten in their last 4 home league games and go into battle as against Aduana FC who are winless in their last 5 away league games.
Aduana FC defeated Asante Kotoko 2-1 last Sunday to keep the pressure on leaders FC Samartex 1996. Aduana FC have managed a paltry 6 points from 10 league games on the road.
Great Olympics have beaten Aduana FC only once in their last three meetings dating back to 2020/21 season. In the 2020/21 season, Great Olympics suffered a 3-2 defeat to Aduana FC, won 2-1 in the 2021/22 season before losing 1-0 in the 2022/23 season.
Mathew Agama, Albert Amoah, Abednego Asafo, Godfred Asiamah, Gladson Awako, Raymond Grippman, Razak Kassim, Christopher Nettey and Ebenezer Sekyere are all fit and available for Accra Great Olympics.
Bright Adjei has banged in 7 league goals for Aduana FC after stepping in for the injured Isaac Mintah. Also available for Aduana FC are Emmanuel Gyamfi, Richard Afriyie, Anderson Asamoah, Alex Boakye, Richard Mahama, Kelvin Obeng, Frank Owusu, Rich Sackey and Kyeremeh Silas.
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