Sports
Asante Kotoko to travel to Sogakope for Legon Cities clash as Nations FC face Karela United at Abrankese
Former champions Asante Kotoko will face Legon Cities at WAFA Park in Sogakope saturday afternoon in search of only their second back to back wins in the season.
The Porcupine Warriors have won only once in their last five matches – coming on the back of one draw and three losses and sit in 13th place in the league table.
Legon Cities are not doing any better as they occupy the 16th position in the league log with 12 points having won one, drawn one and lost three games in their last five league outings.
Asante Kotoko go into the game looking to continue their outstanding performance against defending champions Medeama SC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium where they needed a second half spot kick to win 1-0 to end their game winless run.
Legon Cities have played Asante Kotoko three times at home since 2020/21 with the porcupines winning two and drawing one – In the 2020/21 season, Asante Kotoko beat Legon Cities 1-0 and won 2-1 in the 2021/22 season before drawing 1-1 in the 2022/23 campaign.
Kalo Ouattara is Asante Kotoko’s top scorer with 2 goals in 10 games with defender Mohammed Sherif also on 2 goals for the Porcupine Warriors.
The likes of Richmond Lamptey, Steven Mukwala Desse, Yusif Nurudeen Mohammed, George Mfegue Omgba, Serge Eric Zeze and Henry Ansu are all fit and available for selection.
Head coach of Legon Cities Samuel Kwesi Fabin also has a strong squad with top scorer Frank Antwi (3 goals) ready to lead the lines on Saturday. Others include Nicholas Mensah, Nasiru Moro, Kwame Aziz, Kwabena Boateng, Frank Akoto and Samuel Tenedu.
The game will be broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247 at 3pm on Saturday.
At the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex, Nations FC will face Karela United for the first time in the league. Karela United currently occupies the 15th position with 12 points having won one of their last five league matches. Shaibu Tanko’s side have drawn three and picked one defeat in the league but recovered to beat Aduana FC 2-1 for their first victory in eight games.
Nations FC are unbeaten at home following three wins and two draws in their debut season – scoring 10 and conceded 3 in the process. Nations FC have won three and lost two of their last five games and are currently 9th with 14 points. Midfielder Barimah Baah has scored 3 goals for the new boys and will be available for the game with the likes of Amidou Diarra, Asamoah Boateng Afriyie, Nafiu Sulemana, Emmanuel Boahene, Prince Acquah, Ishmael Antwi and Kwaku Duah all fit to start for Kasim Mingle’s side.
For the visitors, top scorer Evans Adomako WWireduwho has five goals to his name is available to start. They also have in their stable, Samuel Attah Kumi, Emmanuel Boakye Owusu, Abdul Latif, Fatawu Mohammed, Mohammed Asigre and Maxwell Arthur.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
A little over six weeks ago, everything pointed to a Medeama SC coronation as 2025/26 Ghana Premier League (GPL) champions at the end of the season.
That sounds premature, considering the fact that there were close to about 15 matches before the curtain was drawn on the competition.
However, believers of that assumption were right with that call due to Medeama’s form and doughty-character.
Medeama has been fearless this season. They have been ruthless, sharp, composed and a very formidable opposition, dealing with what their opponents throw at them.
In fact, establishing a 17-game unbeaten run speaks volumes of the quality Medeama has shown this season.
Two people have been key in this transformational story – Coach Ibrahim Tanko and playmaker, Salim Adams.
As of Week 21, Medeama SC opened a yawning seven-point gap with 43 points, leading Aduana FC, Hearts of Oak and Gold Stars, all with 36 points without any indication of slowing down.
But the story has completely changed just four matches after, with Medeama currently occupying the top spot with a slim one point.
Worse of all is the failure to record a win in their last five games in the competition, surviving at the top with unfavourable results of their closest competitors.
That winless run has seen Medeama drawn in three games against Samartex FC, Aduana FC and Swedru All Blacks, and lost to Nations FC and Hohoe United.
The nature of the defeat to Hohoe United generated controversy among those who won’t accept that a penalty miss and an erratic clearance by goalkeeper Felix Kyei that gifted the Voltarians the winning goal were genuine errors.
Their recent falters should have been pleasant opportunities for second-placed Gold Stars, and Hearts of Oak to capture reins at the top, but strangely, they suffered challenges of their own; leaving Medeama hanging at the top.
These dynamics are beginning to paint a positive picture for the competition as clubs at the top fight for more points to take pole positions, wrest with strugglers who are also battling hard for survival.
Outside of the top three, with chances of assuming the top spot if the Medeama form does not see any improvement, are Karela United and Asante Kotoko.
Despite their struggles, they have an outside chance of joining the battle at the top with nine matches to go.
At this stage of the competition, the pressure will be on Coach Ibrahim Tanko and his Medeama charges. Having ‘bottled’ a seven-point gap to a single point, it is surely theirs to lose.
Tanko, in previous interviews, has parried questions over the pressure on him and the team, but their current predicament leaves much to be desired.
The next two months would witness intense battle at both ends of the table with as many as five clubs having reason to contest for the ultimate, with about the same number set for the late drama to escape the last two slots to join Eleven Wonders, who are the surest bet for demotion.
By Andrew Nortey
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A step closer to glory awaits six Ghana Premier League (GPL) club sides and two Division One clubs as they battle for spots at the semi-finals stage of the 2025-26 MTN FA Cup this weekend at the Cape Coast Stadium and the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem.
Dreams FC, the 2022-2023 champions, will clash with Heart of Lions in the quarter-finals at the Cape Coast Stadium tomorrow at pm.
Heart of Lions are going through a difficult spell in the league, having lost ground on their title aspirations that started brightly.
Dreams FC thrashed Lions 3-0 in the reverse fixture of the GPL game in January after losing 1-0 in the first round tie, and tomorrow’s game comes in to settle the scores between the two sides this season.
Although struggling, Lions lie two places above Dreams’ 12th position on the league log and will look to take that inspiration into the game.
The day’s other game will see two-time champions Medeama SC battle Access Bank Division One League (DOL) Zone Three side Attram De Visser at the same venue at 7pm.
The GPL leaders Medeama SC are in the chase for a double this season and will chase a win to appease their fans.
After defeating Asante Kotoko 4-2 on penalties in the Round of 16, Aduana FC will seek to account for Access Bank DOL Zone One B campaigners, Techiman Liberty Youth, today.
Aduana FC are in the hunt for a double this season as they are currently third on the GPL table, trailing leaders Medeama SC with five points.
Having been decisive in matches against Nsuatre FC, Victory Club Warriors and Real Tamale United to get this far, the best in the annals of the club’s history, coach Ezekiel Nii Yeboah of Liberty Youth would be out to cause an upset.
At the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem tomorrow, another interesting pairing is set to play out as the all-Premier League affair between Nations FC and Berekum Chelsea takes centre stage.
By Raymond Ackumey
