The Premier League returns across nine centres with giants Asante Kotoko staying at home while Hearts of Oak make the long journey to Sambreboi.
Here is a preview of the weekend round of matches in the Ghanaian top-flight.
Asante Kotoko vs Vision FC
Asante Kotoko entertain newly promoted side Vision FC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium match day 17 of the Premier League on Sunday January 19, 2025.
The Porcupine Warriors slipped to the 6th position in the table with 28 points after sharing the spoils with Medeama in a 1-1 stalemate two weeks ago. They are the only club in the league with an unbeaten record in the last five outings (W4, D1).
Vision FC are currently occupying the 11th position in the table with 19 points after match day 16. They’ve won 2, drawn 2 and suffered 1 defeat in the last five league matches, having scored 12 and conceded 15. The Tema based are winless in their last five consecutive away fixtures ahead of the clash (D2, L3) and will hope for a rare outcome on Sunday.
Both sides are meeting in the league for the first time since Vision FC gained promotion into the top-flight this season.
FC Samartex 1996 vs Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak will seek to continue their impressive form in the league when they travel to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena to battle defending champions FC Samartex 1996 on Sunday January 19, 2025.
The Timber giants ended their 5-game winless run after beaten Aduana FC 1-0 on the road. They are sitting 8th placed in the table with 21 points, having won 1, drawn 1, and suffered 3 consecutive defeats in the last five league games. They’ve scored 11 and conceded 10 in the process. The Timber Giants are winless in their last three consecutive home fixtures and will be keen to secure victory on Sunday.
Three successive wins in the last five outings (W3, D1, L1) have seen the Phobians occupying the 5th position in the table with 28 points, having scored 16 and conceded 10. Hearts of Oak are the second best away team in the league prior to this game and will be eager to maintain their impressive form on Sunday.
FC Samartex 1996 have played Hearts of Oak twice at home in the league since the Timber Giants gained promotion into the Premier League in the 2022/23 season with FC Samartex wining in both encounters.
In the 2022/23 season, FC Samartex 1996 beat Hearts of Oak 3-2 and won 2-1 in the 2023/24 season.
Nsoatreman FC vs Karela United
Nsoatreman FC will hope to end their 9-game winless run when they host Karela United at the Nana Konamansah Park on Sunday.
Sitting above the relegation Zone with just a single point heading into the last game in the first round, Nsoatreman FC will be looking to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three. They’ve amassed 15 points, scored 15 and are the second club with the most goals conceded (20). The Nsoatre lads are unbeaten in their last five home league games with one win and four consecutive draws. They will be desperate to record their first win since their 2-0 win over Basake Holy Stars on match day 7.
Back-to-back defeats in the last five league matches (W1, D2, L2) have seen Karela United slipped to the 16th place in the relegation zone with 14 points, having scored 8 and conceded 13. They’ve lost three of their last five fixtures away from home going into this game.
Nsoatreman FC have played Karela United twice at home in the league since the Nsoatre lads gained promotion into the Premiership in the 2022/23 season with Nsoatreman FC winning one and losing one.
In the 2022/23 season, Nsoatreman FC beat Karela United 3-0 and suffered a 0-1 defeat in the 2023/24 season.
Basake Holy Stars vs Aduana FC
Basake Holy Stars welcome Aduana FC to the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena on Sunday.
Holy Stars have won 3 and suffered 2 defeats in the last five league matches having scored the second most goals (18) and conceded 18.
They’ve amassed 21 points and are currently 9th in the table. Abdulai Gazale’s men are the fourth best home team (W4, D1) and will be keen to maintain their impressive performance on Sunday.
Aduana FC returned to Premier League action with a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to FC Samartex 1996 in their last game. They’ve won 1, drawn 2 and suffered 2 defeats in the last five outings, having scored 11 and conceded 14. They are currently occupying the 12th position in the league table with 17 points.
The Fire Club goes into the game with a victory in their previous away fixture at Legon Cities and will yearn for a second successive win away from home on Sunday.
Both sides are meeting in the league for the first time since the Aiyinase lads gained promotion into the Premier League this season.
Accra Lions vs Gold Stars FC
Accra Lions will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they entertain Gold Stars FC at the WAFA Park on Sunday January 19, 2025.
Lions suffered yet another defeat at Dreams FC in their last Premier League match, where they’ve secured the least number of wins in the league this season after match day 16 (W2). They are currently battling with relegation in the 17th place with 13 points, having scored 10 and conceded 15. They've won 1, drawn 1 and lost 3 in the last five outings. Lions are the fifth weakest home team in the league and will be eager to record their third victory this season on Sunday over Gold Stars FC side they’ve not lost to at home since 2021.
The Miners are hardly an ideal opponent for the host as they’ve won 3, drawn 1 and lost just a single game in the last five league matches.
They are second in the table with 30 points, having scored 16 and conceded 9. They head into the game with a defeat in their last away fixture against Asante Kotoko in match day 15 and will seek to grab all the spoils over struggling Accra Lions on Sunday.
Accra Lions have played Gold Stars FC three times at home in the league since 2021/22 season with Accra Lions winning two and drawing one.
In the 2021/22 season, Accra Lions beat Gold Stars FC 1-0, drawn 2-2 in the 2022/23 season and recorded a 2-0 victory in the 2023/24 season.
Berekum Chelsea vs Medeama SC
Berekum Chelsea entertain Medeama SC at the Golden City Park on Sunday in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s quest to regain their form back in the league hit a bump on the road two weeks ago, as Samuel Boadu’s men were beaten 2-0 away from home at Gold Stars. That leaves them with just one win across their last five outings (D2, L2). They are currently occupying the 10th position in the table with 19 points, having scored 12 and conceded 14. Berekum Chelsea have drawn goalless in their last two consecutive home fixtures prior to this clash and will anticipate for a good outcome on Sunday.
After drawing 1-1 at Nsoatreman in their match week 15 outstanding game, Medeama SC have earned eight out of the possible 15 points in the last five league matches (W2, D2, L1). They are currently sitting 7th place in the table with 26 points, having scored 16 and conceded 13. The Mauve and Yellow head into this fixture as the fourth best away side. They will be eager to secure a point over a Berekum Chelsea side they’ve struggled to beat away from home since 2020.
Berekum Chelsea have played Medeama SC four times at home in the league since 2020/21 season with Berekum Chelsea winning two and drawing two.
In the 2020/21 season, Berekum Chelsea drawn 1-1 with Medeama, drawn goalless in the 2021/22 season, won 1-0 in the 2022/23 season and recorded a 2-0 victory in the 2023/24 season.
Heart of Lions vs Nations FC
League leaders Heart of Lions welcome Nations FC to the Kpando Stadium on Sunday.
Lions' four-game competitive winning run ended at Bechem United last weekend (3-0), a particularly frustrating result as they missed out on a chance to extend the lead on top of the table. They’ve amassed 30 points, having scored 16 and are the second club with the least goals conceded (8).
The Kpando lads are the second best home team in the league currently and have won their last five consecutive home league fixtures.
Bashiru Hayford’s men will seek to continue their remarkable form at home on Sunday.
Nations FC come into this clash on the back of their impressive 3-1 home win over Basake Holy Stars, putting a decent spin on their recent performance of 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats in their last five league matches. They are currently occupying the third position in the table with just a point separating them from the host.
The Abrankese lads have scored the most goals (20) and conceded the least (7). Kassim Mingle Ocansey’s men are the best away team in the league and will be desperate to secure their fifth victory away from home on Sunday.
Heart of Lions have played Nations FC once at home in the league since the Kpando lads gained promotion back into the Premiership last season with the game ending in 3-0 for Heart of Lions.
Young Apostles vs Bechem United
Bechem United travel to the Wenchi Sports Stadium to face newly promoted side Young Apostles on Sunday.
Young Apostles have won 1, drawn 1 and suffered 3 defeats in the last five outings, having scored 10 and conceded 17. They are currently lying 13th in the table with 17 points. They head into this fixture with a 2-0 victory over Karela United in their previous home game and be eager to secure their second successive win at home for the first time in the league.
Following a 3-0 win at home against league leaders Heart of Lions, United will arrive in the latest round of League action with just a single defeat in their last five outings (W4, L1) keeping four clean sheets across the aforementioned five-game sequence. They’ve scored 16 and conceded 10 and are currently sitting 4th place in the table with 29 points.
The Hunters are the sixth best away team in the league (W2, D2, L1) and will be keen to grab all the spoils on Sunday.
Both sides are meeting in the league for the first time since the Wenchi lads gained promotion into the Premiership this season.
Legon Cities vs Dreams FC
Bottom placed Legon Cities will hope to return to winning ways when they welcome Dreams FC to the University of Ghana Stadium on Sunday January 19, 2025.
Legon Cities remain rooted at the bottom of the table with just 11 points. They’ve lost all their last five consecutive league matches without scoring. The Royals head into this game as the fourth weakest home performers in the league currently (W3, L2). They’ve suffered the most defeats than any other club in the league this season (11). Kwesi Fabin’s men have scored 10 and conceded the most goals (25) after match day 16.
Dreams FC have exited relegation zone to the 14th place in the table with 16 points after beaten Accra Lions 1-0 at the weekend (W1, D2, L2). They’ve scored the least number of goals in the league (7) and conceded 11. The Believers are among the weakest away performing clubs (W1, D3, L1).
Legon Cities have played Dreams FC four times at home in the league since 2020/21 season with the Royals winning two and drawing two.
In the 2020/21 season, Legon Cities drawn 1-1 with Dreams FC, won 2-1 in the 2021/22 season, drawn goalless in the 2022/23 season and recoded a 1-0 victory in the 2023/24 season.
GFA Communications