Sports
Premier League: Nsoatreman pip Kotoko; Gold Stars drop points; Young Apostles pull shock win; Dreams, Vision bag wins
Asante Kotoko lost 1-0 at Nsoatreman FC but remained top of the Premier League table after match day 19.
Gabriel Bonnah scored the decisive goal in 81st minute to hand his side the survival boosting win at the Nana Kronmansah Park in Nsoatre.
Kotoko remain on top of the table with 34 points after 19 matches while Nsoatreman have jumped to 13th in the table.
Gold Stars FC missed the chance to go top of the Premier League after a drab stalemate against FC Samartex 1996 at home on Sunday February 2, 2025.
The Western derby failed to produce goals as the two top teams shared the spoils in an entertaining match at the Duns Park in Bibiani.
The Miners remain on points with leaders Asante Kotoko on 34 while the defending champions are locked in mid-table.
Nurudeen Abdulai scored the only goal of the match for Medeama SC in a match-winning 1-0 success over Legon Cities on Sunday.
Nurudeen, who is now being deployed as defensive midfielder, grabbed the match winner in the 70th minute to separate the two teams at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa.
Medeama maintain their 7th position in the table while Cities remain in the bottom three.
Vision FC rallied from behind to beat basement boys Accra Lions 2-1 at home on Sunday February 2, 2025.
Yao Sokpoli opened the scoring for the visitors as early as the 8th minute before Emmanuel Akansase pulled parity in the 79th minute.
As the match appeared to be heading to a draw, Isaac Opoku Agyemang scored the match-winner through the spot kick at the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema New Town.
Vision find themselves in 11th position while Accra Lions remain firmly rooted at the bottom.
Young Apostles pulled the chestnut out of the blazing fire with a 2-1 win at Nations FC on Sunday.
The visitors scored twice courtesy Emmanuel Kontor and Ramzy Abubakar before defender Razak Simpson pulled a goal back for the home side.
Nations, serving a one-match home suspension, suffered the defeat at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.
The win has lifted Apostles to 12th while Nations remain in third place.
Aduana FC recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Bechem United to triumph in the Bono derby on Sunday.
Kelvin Obeng’s 8th minute strike separated the two teams at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park.
Aduana lie 13th while Bechem United remain in 6th position.
Dreams FC continued their survival push with a 2-1 win over Basake Holy Stars at home on Sunday.
Abdul Razak Salifu opened the scoring for the home side before Emmanuel Kwame pulled parity for the visitors at the Tuba Astro turf.
Experienced striker Joseph Esso scored the match-winning goal to hand Dreams the vital win in their survival ambition.
Dreams, three points above the drop zone, lie 14th in the table while the Premier League new boys find themselves in 10th position.
Karela United recorded a 2-1 win over Berekum Chelsea at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Alhassan Adamu grabbed a sensational brace (12th and 48th) minutes before Kwasi Fosu pulled a goal back for the visitors.
Despite the win, United remain in the bottom three while Chelsea find themselves in 8th position in the table.
The TnA Stadium in Tarkwa will come live tomorrow with a top of the table clash as title-chasing Medeama SC welcome defending champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, in a Match day 31 fixture of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
Medeama has declared it “Operation Paint Tarkwa Yellow and Mauve” as they gear up for what connoisseurs see as a make or break fixture for both sides.
A win for the home side will stretch their lead on the log to five points and hand them a huge boost in their title aspirations, but a defeat will play into the hands of the visitors.
Both teams head into this fixture with two points separating them on the league log with Medeama SC leading with 53 points.
The first round tie at the Dun’s Park in Bibiani ended goalless, leaving all to be played for in this game.
Third placed side, Hearts of Oak, will trek to the Kwame Kyel Sports Complex to test their might against Nations FC.
Both have faced each other five times since 2023 with the Phobians winning twice, drawing same and losing once.
This season, the Phobians defeat Nation FC 1-0 in the first round game at home and will look to do a double over the Abrankese lads, a plot coach Frimpong Manso and his charges are scheming against.
Hearts have drawn thrice, won once and lost same in their last five games and are heading into the game on the back of a 1-0 loss on the road to Vision FC.
Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has charged his boys to put that defeat behind them and go for victory.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa, fourth placed Aduana FC will be chasing their 13th win of the season when they welcome Heart of Lions in their penultimate home game.
The “Ogya Boys” will be seeking a double over the visitors after inflicting a 1-0 win over the Kpando lads at their own backyard last December.
Karela United will look to exact revenge on Young Apostles FC when they host them at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.
Fifth-placed side, Samartex FC, will stay put at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena to host Basake Holy Stars.
Dreams FC will hope to worsen the plight of Asante Kotoko when they host them at the Tuba Astro Turf.
Vision FC will lock horns with Swedru All Blacks at the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex in Tema today.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
Fierce competition for slots for the 2027 Africa Games continues today at the Borteyman Sports facility in Accra where over 300 athletes from 21 countries have converged to compete in the 15th Africa Armwrestling Championship.
The championship started yesterday with thrilling performances. The fireworks will continue today which happens to be the final day with eyes fixed on medals and ranking points to secure continental glory, and most importantly, a qualification to the 2027 African Games.
It has attracted tough competitors from traditional powerhouses such as Egypt, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and host nation, Ghana.
They are known for their long-standing dominance in the sport, and are expected to provide stiff competition for the Ghana national Armwrestling team, The Golden Arms.
Also expected to stage a strong contest are the new forces in the Armwrestling arena.
Benin, Mauritius, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Kenya, Eswatini, Burundi, Niger, Senegal, Cote D’viore and Togo are all in town, ready to combat the ‘big guns’ despite their underdog status.
The arrival of South Africa and Benin in particular, adds a fresh competitive edge to the southern and West Africa representation of the tournament.
This edition is under the theme: ‘Pulling Africa Together,’ emphasising the role of sports in fostering regional integration and unity among member states.
Speaking ahead of the competition, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairperson, Maame Efua Houadjeto, explained that the event provides a platform to bridge cultural gaps and strengthen the bond between African nations through fair play.
Maame Efua, who doubles as Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), also indicated the readiness of the LOC and the country to stage a very impressive championship.
“We are fully prepared to host a world-class championship that reflects the hospitality of Ghana. By bringing the continent to Accra, including our brothers and sisters from Egypt, Nigeria, and the rising stars from Benin and Mauritius, we have demonstrated that Africa is stronger when we lock hands.”
She continued that: “The theme: ‘Pulling Africa Together’ is a call for continental development and peace. We are ready to show that Ghana remains the heartbeat of African sports and the best in hospitality.”
Contributing, Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of Ghana and Africa Armwrestling, commended various partners, especially the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Ghana Olympic Committee, National Sports Authority, National Petroleum Authority, National Health Insurance Authority, Bethel Logistics, Verna Water, Kofikrom Pharmacy Limited, Stanbic Bank, Kofata Motors, Royal Dach Pharmacy, IMAH Hospital, Event Factory, Awards Center, Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Ghana Tourism Authority for the unflinching support for the championship.
On his part, Mr Kenneth Odeng Adade, the Chief Operations Officer for the championship, indicated that Borteyman complex has been fitted with international-standard Armwrestling tables and electronic systems to ensure a seamless experience..
As the competition officially ends today, the ‘Golden Arms’ of Ghana will be looking to leverage home-court advantage against the technical prowess of the Egyptians and the raw power of the Nigerians.
