OLYMPICS vs KOTOKO
Accra Great Olympics will take on Kumasi Asante Kotoko in a crunch game week 20 encounter. It will be the biggest game of the week as 1st and 2nd placed teams on the league table clash with only a point to separate the two. Olympics were humbled by their city rivals, Legon Cities in game week 19 as they lost by 2 goals to nil, losing the chance to remain top of the table and it is a mistake they would not want repeat.
Being on top of the league table will in no doubt put pressure on Asante Kotoko but with the experience of new coach Mariano Barretto, they should be able to handle the pressure well. The two teams have played a total of 5 league matches between 2015 to 2020 and Olympics has an advantage over their next opponent. Winning 2, drawing 2 and losing 1. This match will be a crucial test for the defensive unit of the porcupine warriors. Fabio Gama will be sorely missed as he will not be available due to accumulated yellow cards. Okrah, Asiamah, and co will be left to deal with the fluid offense by the Capital Club. Naby Keita (who celebrates his birthday today) is an injury doubt.
| MATCH INFO | ||
| Venue | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | |
| Date and Time | Friday April 16, 2021 3:00 PM | |
| Form | Great Olympics: LWWWL | Kotoko: WWDWL |
| Position | 2nd (33 pts) | 1st (34 pts) |
PREDICTION: 1-2
ELMINA SHARKS vs WAFA
After that capitulation at the hands of Liberty Professionals last week, Elmina Sharks will need to regroup and get themselves back to full force if they want to collect all 3 points at stake as they host WAFA who sit 3 places and 3 points above them. Sharks’ January exits finally caught up with them in that defeat, as there was no real leader on the pitch. It was Coach Odartey Lamptey’s first loss since joining the Sharks and a rather hard pill to swallow, considering his stellar start with the Edinaman boys. Ever present defender Ishmael Hammond will likely be called upon to rally his troops to victory as his absence was largely significant to that loss. Back at the Nduom Sports Complex, Sharks have remained an unbended steel scoring in all of their home games. A win against their opponent is motivation enough as it will take them equal on points.
WAFA took 3 important points last weekend against Bechem United as it hauled them further away from the relegation zone. They are now unbeaten in 2 games; first time that has happened since late January. This should be catalyst enough for Coach Prosper Ogum to raise his team to former heights. Away from the Sogakope Park, they have scored 2 goals in 10 outings: the lowest by any side and none in the last 5 away trips. A form that depicts relegation struggles. That notwithstanding, they claimed a valuable away clean sheet in their last away trip to King Faisal. That is 2 clean sheets in a row backed by 2 games unbeaten. That form might serve a big test for the host who need 3 points badly as relegation beckons.
| MATCH INFO | ||
| Venue | Nduom Sports Stadium, Accra | |
| Date and Time | Saturday April 17, 2021 3:00 PM | |
| Form | Elmina Sharks: LWWLL | WAFA: WDLWL |
| Position | 13th (23 pts) | 10th (26 pts) |
PREDICTION: 1-0
KING FAISAL vs ASHGOLD
Relegation threatened King Faisal have a huge task ahead in a bid to escape relegation, as they meet Ashantigold. They have struggled since the commencement of the league and are in serious need of a miracle if they want to avoid being relegated. Their performances have been poor as they have just one win in their last five matches and currently are 17th on the table. Even if they win this fixture, they will remain in the relegation zone. Alhaji Grunsah’s team, clearly needs a miracle to survive as they battle challenges off and on the field.
Ashantigold have had their share of struggles in the league as they have won twice in 11 straight games. Their second win was against Hearts of Oak where Amos Addai converted a late penalty to win by one goal to nil. New coach of Ashantigold, Romain Folz has a point to prove as his side takes on one of the weakest teams in the league. A win can send them to 6th on the table and further make a statement to the rest of the teams to be weary of the “Miners” or “Aboakese” as they love to be called.
| MATCH INFO | ||
| Venue | Ohene Ameyaw Park, Techiman | |
| Date and Time | Saturday April 17, 2021 3:00 PM | |
| Form | King Faisal: LDLWL | Ashgold: WDDLW |
| Position | 17th (18 pts) | 9th (26 pts) |
PREDICTION: 1-2
BEREKUM CHELSEA vs EBUSUA DWARFS
Two teams tied on points but separated by goal difference come face to face in this match week 20 fixture.
Berekum Chelsea still remain unbeaten at home in the league and it looks like they are going to finish the season that way. So far, their worst result at home is a draw and the “Bibiries” are loving it. They played their last home game at the Nana Agyeman Badu Park in Dorma and for this fixture, they go back to their original home grounds. Their current season home record is 6 wins and 4 draws. Amazing, isn’t it?
Ebusua Dwarfs have an impressive away record in the league with only 3 loses, 4 draws and 3 wins. They do not seem to be afraid of playing away from home as other teams do. They’ve managed only one win in their last five matches, but this team is full of surprises and must not be underrated.
| MATCH INFO | ||
| Venue | Gold City Park, Berekum | |
| Date and Time | Saturday April 17, 2021 3:00 PM | |
| Form | Berekum Chelsea: LWDLW | Ebusua Dwarfs: DLDWL |
| Position | 12th (24 pts) | 11th (24 pts) |
PREDICTION: 1-1
DREAMS vs KARELA
The Dawu-based side have finally declared in public that they will part ways with Joseph Esso, who joined them from Accra Hearts of Oak. Again, Algeria is the destination, as he joins the likes of Kwame Poku in the GPL exodus. That notwithstanding, the team which lost to Medeama by 2 Ahmed Simba Toure goals in match day 19 will seek to make amends at their fortress, the Theatre of dreams.
Karela’s 1st round glory seems to have hit a snag as the one-time league leaders have had to succumbed to the third spot after losing to the lowly Inter Allies. The more their credentials were tested in the first round, the more resolute they seemed to hang on to the much-coveted top spot on the table. Coach Evan Adotey’s promising home run was truncated by Kotoko when they last visited. The Crosby Awuah Memorial Park remains a fortress but gong to Dawu for the second time to face the original owners of the pitch in Dreams FC, they will not want to lose twice.
| MATCH INFO | ||
| Venue | Dawu Sport Stadium, Dawu | |
| Date and Time | Sunday April 18, 2021 3:00 PM | |
| Form | Dreams FC: LDLWL | Karela United: LDWLW |
| Position | 6th (27 pts) | 3rd (32 pts) |
PREDICTION: 1-1
BECHEM UNITED vs ADUANA STARS
Bechem United also remain one of the teams who are unbeaten at home this season. They have a near perfect record of 6 wins and 4 draws so far. They look like they have an extra motivation when they play at home and even the best teams of the league struggle to match their threat at home.
Aduana Stars will make almost 3hrs of road trip to Bechem to face them. Aduana have one of the poorest away records in the league with only one win which they secured against Kotoko in match week 10. They are currently tied on points with their opponents and are only separated by goal difference. If their away record is anything to go by, then clearly it will go in favor of Bechem United. But hey, anything can happen in football. Aduana might be the first team this season to break the unbeaten home run of Bechem United.
| MATCH INFO | ||
| Venue | Nana Fosu Gyabour Park, Bechem | |
| Date and Time | Sunday April 18, 2021 3:00 PM | |
| Form | Bechem United: LLWDD | Aduana Stars: WLLWL |
| Position | 8th (27 pts) | 6th (27 pts) |
PREDICTION: 2-0
HEARTS OF OAK vs INTER ALLIES
Hearts of Oak come into this match week 20 fixture as “wounded lions” for two reasons. One, because of the painful loss to Ashantigold very late in the game in their last match, and second, to revenge for that painful loss to Inter Allies in the first round fixture. Hearts had not lost a match in 6 games before the Ashgold fixture. An obviously livid Samuel Boadu on the day, was left licking his wounds and most likely will unleash “mayhem” on the Inter Allies team in this fixture.
Rock bottom Inter Allies must find a way to quash every strategy of Hearts as they did in the first-round fixture to further frustrate the Phobians who are chasing their bitterest rivals Kotoko, who sit on top of the table. Although a win, will still leave them in the relegation zone, it will give them the bragging rights of beating one of the best teams in the league back-to-back.
| MATCH INFO | ||
| Venue | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | |
| Date and Time | Sunday April 18, 2021 6:00 PM | |
| Form | Hearts of Oak: LWWDW | Inter Allies: WDDLW |
| Position | 4th (30 pts) | 18th (16 pts) |
PREDICTION: 3-1
Wenomedia Sports
Follow our writers on Twitter:
@kowsackey
@racquaye
@kwakusolomongh
@kwesi_lazintus
@el_desnudo
