The second round of the Premier League continues on Sunday January 26, 2025 with exciting fixtures across eight centres.
Here is a preview of Match Day 18 of the Ghanaian top-flight.
Asante Kotoko SC vs Karela United
Asante Kotoko will seek for a second successive win when they host Karela United at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday January 26, 2025.
The Porcupine Warriors cruised to a thrilling 4-1 win over newly promoted side Vision FC to secure third place in the table with 31 points, leaving Coach Dr Prosper Ogum delighted with his team’s hunger for the title after they missed out last season.
The Ghanaian giants are the only club with an unbeaten record in the last five outings (W4, D1), having scored the second most goals (20) and conceded 12.
Kotoko are the fourth best home team in the league currently and head into the game with three consecutive home wins. They will hope to continue their impressive home form on Sunday.
A 1-0 defeat at Nsoatreman FC over the weekend have seen Karela United suffered three consecutive losses in the last five league matches (D2).
They are currently occupying the 16th position in the relegation zone with 14 points, having scored the second least goals (8) and conceded 14. The Tamale based have lost their last three consecutive games away from home without scoring.
Asante Kotoko have played Karela United four times at home in the league with the Porcupine Warriors winning one and drawing three.
In the 2020/21 season, Asante Kotoko beat Karela United 2-1 and drawn 1-1 in the2021/22 season, repeated same score line in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 season.
Basake Holy Stars vs Hearts of Oak
Premier League new boys Basake Holy Stars will hope to complete the double over Hearts of Oak when they face off on Sunday at the AAK II Sports Arena.
Holy Stars recorded a famous 1-0 win over the Phobians in Accra and will hope to complete a remarkable double against the Ghanaian powerhouse.
They’ve won 2, drawn 1 and suffered 2 defeats in the last five league matches, having scored 19 and conceded 19. They are currently sitting 9th place in the league table with 22 points. The Aiyinase lads are the fifth best home side in the league (W4, D1) and have scored the joint most goals at home (13).
Hearts of Oak were held to a frustrating goalless stalemate at Samartex in their last fixture (W3, D1, L1), as they missed the chance to secure a place in the top-four at the end of the first round. They are currently occupying the 5th position in the league table with 29 points, having scored 16 and conceded 10.
Aboubakar Ouattara’s men head into this game as the second best away team in the league and will yearn for all the spoils on Sunday.
Basake Holy Stars are playing Hearts of Oak at home in the league for the first time since the Aiyinase lads gained promotion into Premier League this season.
Bechem United vs Nations FC
In-form Bechem United welcome Nations FC to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park on Sunday.
United slipped to the 6th place in the league table with 27 points despite sharing the spoils in a goalless stalemate at Young Apostles in their last fixture.
The Hunters have won 3, drawn 1 and suffered just a single defeat in the last five outings, having scored 16 and conceded 10. United are the third best home performers in the league with four consecutive wins ahead of the clash and still remain the only club in the league yet to concede at home. They will be keen to maintain their magnificent performance on Sunday.
Nations FC head Coach Kassim Mingle Ocansey will hope that a had fought 1-0 win at Heart of Lions will injects some confidence into the lads as they trip to Bechem United. They’ve won 3, drawn 1 and suffered just a single defeat in the last five outings, having scored the most goals (21) and conceded the least (7). They are the best away performers in the league currently (W3, D1, L1) and will seek for a rare outcome on Sunday.
Bechem United have played Nations FC once at home in the league since the Abrankese lads gained promotion into the top-flight last season with the game ending in a 3-0 victory for Bechem United.
Young Apostles vs Nsoatreman FC
Nsoatreman FC will hope for a second successive win for the first time this season when they travel to the Wenchi Sports Stadium to battle newly promoted side Young Apostle on Sunday January 26, 2025.
Young Apostles are behind the visitors in the league table (14th) with same points (18), having won 1, drawn 2 and suffered 2 defeats in the last five league matches. They’ve scored 10 and conceded 17. The Wenchi lads are the fifth weakest home side in the league currently (W1, D3 L1).
Nsoatreman FC ended their nine-game winless run last time out after beaten Karela United 1-0 at home. They are currently lying 13th place in the table with 18 points, having won 1, drawn 2 and suffered 2 defeats in the last five outings.
They’ve scored 16 and are the second most conceded side (20). The Nsoatre lads are the second weakest away team in the league and are among the three clubs yet to record their first victory away from home this season.
Young Apostles are playing Nsoatreman FC at home in the league for the first time since the Wenchi lads gained promotion into the top-flight this season.
Berekum Chelsea vs Vision FC
Berekum Chelsea entertain newly promoted side Vision FC to the Golden City Park on Sunday.
Chelsea edged out Medeama SC 2-1 at the weekend to end their four-game winless run (W1, D2, L2). They are currently occupying the 10th position in the table with 22 points, having scored 14 and conceded 15. They are the seventh best home team in the league ahead of the clash and will hope to secure their fifth home victory on Sunday.
Vision FC heads into yet another grueling league fixture when they trip to Berekum Chelsea after suffering a 4-1 defeat at Asante Kotoko.
They’ve won 2, drawn 2 and lost just a single game in the last five league matches, having scored 13 and conceded 19. They are currently sitting 11th place in the table with 19 points. They are winless in their last five away games are the sixth weakest away performers in the league prior to this fixture.
Berekum Chelsea are playing Vision FC at home in the league for the first time since the Tema based gained promotion into the Premier League this season.
Heart of Lions vs Aduana FC
Heart of Lions will hope to get back to winning ways when they welcome Two-time league champions Aduana FC to the Kpando Stadium on Sunday January 26, 2025.
Back-to-back defeats in the last five league matches (W3, L2) have seen Heart of Lions slipped off the top spot to the 4th place in the table with 30 points, having scored 16 and conceded the second joint least goals in the league (9).
The Kpando lads are the second best home team in the league currently and will yearn for all the spoils on Sunday.
Inconsistency has blighted Aduana FC’s performance this season so far. They have failed to win more than a game in a row, currently sit 12th place in the table with 18 points, having scored 12 and conceded 15. They are among the top ten best away performers in the league and are the only side with an unbeaten record in the last five fixtures away from home (W1, D4).
Heart of Lions have played Aduana FC once at home in the league since the Kpando lads gained promotion back into the Premiership last season with the game ending in a 1-2 victory for Aduana FC.
FC Samartex 1996 vs Dreams FC
FC Samartex 1996 welcome Dreams FC to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena on Sunday.
The defending champions remain 8th in the league table with 22 points despite sharing the spoils in a goalless draw with Hearts of Oak at home in their last fixture.
They’ve won 1, drawn 2 and suffered 2 defeats in the last five league matches. The Timber Giants head into this game with two successive draws and two successive losses in their last four home fixtures. They will hope to secure their first home win on Sunday after beaten Legon Cities 1-0 in match day 10.
Dreams FC fell to a humiliating 3-0 defeat to struggling Legon Cities last time out, keeping them just two points above the bottom three ahead of this round. They’ve amassed 16 points, having scored the least goals in the league currently (7) and conceded 14.
The Believers have won just a single game in the last five outings (D2, L2). Abdul Karim Zito’s men are the 8th weakest away side and will be desperate to grab the maximum points on Sunday over FC Samartex side they’ve struggled to beat in the league since 2022.
FC Samartex 1996 have played Dreams FC twice at home in the league since the Timber Giants gained promotion into the Premiership in the 2022/23 season with FC Samartex winning one and drawing one.
In the 2022/23 season FC Samartex 1996 drawn goalless with Dreams FC and recorded a 2-0 victory in the 2023/24 season.
Legon Cities vs Gold Stars FC
Legon Cities welcome leaders Gold Stars FC to the University of Ghana Stadium on Sunday.
Cities claimed a hugely important victory over Dreams FC at the weekend. That success ended their previous five-game losing streak (W1, L4).
The Royals have amassed the second lowest joint points in the league this season (14) after match day 17 and are currently lying 17th in the relegation zone. They’ve scored 13 and conceded the most goals (25). They head into this fixture as the six weakest home side (W3, L2) and will be desperate to grab all the spoils on Sunday over leaders Gold Stars FC.
Gold Stars FC finished the first round on top of the table with the most points (33). They’ve won 3, drawn 1 and suffered just a single defeat in the last five league matches, having scored 19 and conceded 9 in the process.
The Miners are the fourth best away team in the league currently (W1, D2, L2). They head into this fixture on the back of a 3-0 away victory at Accra Lions and will be keen to snatch the maximum points on Sunday.
Legon Cities have played Gold Stars FC three times at home in the league since 2021/22 season with the Royals drawing two and losing one.
In the 2021/22 season, Legon Cities drew 1-1 with Gold Stars FC, lost 0-1 in the 2022/23 season and recorded a 1-1 draw again in the 2023/24 season.
GFA Communications