WAFA VS HEARTS OF OAK
Repeat or revenge will spell the headlines for this clash as the champions are welcomed to the Sogakope Park where they are on a 7-match winless run.
WAFA after holding out for over 30 minutes with a man short against King Faisal last week finally succumbed at the death to a Zubairu Ibrahim winner. Having lost Augustine Boakye and Coach Prosper Ogum prior to the season’s commencement, it was always going to be tough maintaining their set standards especially at the start of the campaign. But back at the Sogakope Park where they have built a fortress, the Academy boys are always expected to win regardless of who they come up against. This time in an ironic fashion, it’s against the champions who are hell bent on a win after faltering in their first game of their title defense. Captain Konadu Yiadom was stellar against King Faisal and will be charged in repeating a dose of last season’s win after he failed in a move to joining the champions.
Champions Hearts of Oak had their brakes pulled in their quest to defend the title in the season’s opener against Legon Cities, failing to score at home for the first time in 15 matches across all competitions. The Phobians lacked the requisite bite upfront as their killer instinct recipe had an off day. A case Coach Samuel Boadu has tasked his entire team to make an inquest into. New Phobian Enock Esubonteng will be yearning for a start against his former employers as he knows the host’s park venue quite well.
Hearts desperately need a win to kick-start their campaign, and the Sogakope Park could come as a great opportunity in turning around their fortunes as they have won just once in all of their visits. Elsewhere, wounded WAFA will be licking their lips as they’ve been a bane to the Phobians accompanied with the fact that they have no point on the table as yet.
| MATCH INFO | |||
| Venue | WAFA Stadium, Sogakope. | ||
| Date and Time | Friday November 5, 2021 3:00pm | ||
| Form | WAFA: L | Hearts of Oak: D | |
| Position | 16th (0 pts) | 13th (1 pt) | |
PREDICTION: 1-0
LEGON CITIES VS RTU
In their first match of the new season, Legon Cities fought hard for a well-earned point against Accra Hearts of Oak. Much of the credit must be accorded goalkeeper Eric Ofori-Antwi, who made save after save to prevent Hearts of Oak from grabbing a single goal. Next, Real Tamale United, one of the newly promoted sides in the league, will pay a visit to Legon Cities in Accra. With a tenacious defense standing tall against the defending Champions, the Legon Cities lads are likely to record another clean sheet and grab all three points in the process.
Real Tamale United’s return to the Ghana Premier League was quite memorable and eventful. They were able to keep the Oly Dade boys at bay in their home stadium. It is a remarkable achievement for the Tamale side to avoid defeat against one of the league’s old faithfuls. Their next opponent will be a more difficult nut to crack. Their performance against Accra Great Olympics, on the other hand, indicates that they will be a difficult opponent to face on any day. The Pride of North look set to taste their first defeat in the league against Legon Cities.
| MATCH INFO | |||
| Venue | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra. | ||
| Date and Time | Saturday November 6, 2021 3:00pm | ||
| Form | Legon Cities: D | RTU: D | |
| Position | 12th (1 pt) | 11th (1 pt) | |
PREDICTION: 1-0
ASHGOLD VS KARELA
Obuasi Ashanti Gold picked up where they left off last season with a narrow away victory over Eleven Wonders. It was a mediocre performance from a team that began the previous season with much more excitement and glamour. Last season, the Miners had a strong home record. Playing in front of their own fans will boost their morale, allowing them to take all three points in their next match against Karela United.
Last season, Karela United finished ahead of their opponents. Last season’s two meetings between these teams ended in a stalemate. With teams now gaining momentum before the title contenders separate themselves from the pack, this match shouts entertainment. Last season, the Ainyinase-based team was not a happy traveler. If that happens, they’ll be lucky to come home with a point.
| MATCH INFO | |||
| Venue | Len Clay Sports Stadium, Obuasi. | ||
| Date and Time | Saturday November 6, 2021 3:00pm | ||
| Form | Ashgold: W | Karela: D | |
| Position | 3rd (3 pts) | 10th (1 pt) | |
PREDICTION: 1-1
ELMINA SHARKS VS DREAMS FC
The Botwekumba began the season with an impressive away draw at new boys Accra Lions. Despite loads of augmenting made to the team , Elmina Sharks put up an impressive showing in that draw to underline their intentions coming into the season. New signing Michelle Sarpong in particular was inspiring on his debut capping it off with a goal while unsung hero and captain Ishmael Hammond bagged the MOTM award. Coach Odartey Lamptey has made clear his aspirations of finishing in the top 8 this season after their lackluster performance which almost saw them relegated last season. Sharks at the Nduom Sports Stadium are a real force to reckon with, failing to score just once last season and losing just 2 games in the process. They face Dreams FC in a fixture that has provided tons of excitement in the past with the hosts taking home all the spoils.
Dreams FC themselves will be disappointed not to have come away with at least a point in the game against Kotoko where they held a lead for over 85 minutes only to lose 1-3 in the end. With another chance of redeeming themselves, they are expected to come out all guns blazing with new signing Habib Mohammed expected to make his debut. Flying talents Fataw Issahaku and Philimon Baffour will have their heads held up high after gaining call ups to the national team ahead of the world cup qualifiers.
In this typical case of a strong home team hosting a rather poor travelling team, this game is only headed one direction and anything other than a win for the home side will come a great surprise.
| MATCH INFO | |||
| Venue | Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom Sport Stadium, Elmina | ||
| Date and Time | Sunday November 7, 2021 3:00pm | ||
| Form | Elmina Sharks: D | Dreams FC: L | |
| Position | 7th (1 pt) | 17th (0 pts) | |
PREDICTION: 2-1
BEREKUM CHELSEA VS ELEVEN WONDERS
Berekum Chelsea’s opening match of the season didn’t go as they wanted, as they lost by a goal to nil when they visited one of the premier league’s new entrants, Bibiani Gold Stars at the Duns Park in Bibiani. Chelsea will host Techiman Eleven Wonders in this fixture – who also lost on the opening match day fixture. Chelsea will be without their “livewire” and top scorer of last season Stephen Amankona who joined Kotoko just before this season commenced. Chelsea managed to reach the semifinals of the MTN FA CUP last season with Seth Hoffman in charge. The home fans will be hoping to celebrate their first win of the season in this fixture and aim to improve on their performance last season.
New Coach of Eleven Wonders, Yaw Acheampong who joined after departure of Ignatius Osei-Fosu has a huge task in this fixture as they travel to one of most difficult venues in the league, the Golden City Park. Berekum Chelsea lost just once last season at that venue in a 3-2 scoreline against WAFA and this should be a wakeup call to Eleven Wonders to be tactical in their approach to this game. Eleven Wonders lost 1 nil in their opening fixture of the season when they hosted Ashgold at home in Techiman. They need to get something from this game to prove a point that they are ready to fight for a stay in the topflight of Ghana football.
Fans are sure to see a good display of football between these two sides.
| MATCH INFO | |||
| Venue | Golden City Park, Berekum | ||
| Date and Time | Sunday November 7, 2021 3:00pm | ||
| Form | Berekum Chelsea: L | Eleven Wonders: L | |
| Position | 14th (0 pts) | 15th (0 pts) | |
PREDICTION: 2-0
KOTOKO VS BECHEM UNITED
The porcupine warriors return to their sanctuary, the Kumasi Baba Yara Sports Stadium where they last played a game in March 2020. To make their return triumphant, the Kumasi-based side have rallied support from their fans, to fill up the stadium to the maximum allowable capacity. Exciting acquisitions in Stephen Amankona, Richmond Lamptey and teenager Isaac Oppong are all a reason for the fans to troop to the stadium, after each of the aforementioned players contributed significantly to their 3-1 win against Dreams FC in Accra.
Bechem United showed a blistering display of readiness against Medeama SC in their first game of the season: a result which took them to the top of the table after the first matchday. Though it is quite early to conclude on the fortunes of the club, it is relevant to understand the threat they pose to Kotoko. Emmanuel Avornyo, who got a brace in their opening game, along with former Kotoko playmaker, Augustine Okrah will be pulling strings for the Bechem based side, in a bid to topple Kotoko at home.
| MATCH INFO | |||
| Venue | Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi | ||
| Date and Time | Sunday November 7, 2021 3:00pm | ||
| Form | Kotoko: W | Bechem United: W | |
| Position | 2nd (3 pts) | 1st (3 pts) | |
PREDICTION: 2-1
GREAT OLYMPICS VS ACCRA LIONS
It will be a regional derby as Olympics lock horns with city rival Accra Lions. After securing a point in the season opener with Real Tamale United, Olympics will be aiming to kick start their season with a win over league debutant Accra Lions. Olympics will miss the services and experience of former captain Gladson Awako after his transfer to archrivals Hearts of Oak.
The league debutant played out a 1 all draw with Elmina Sharks in their open game of the season. It will be a tough test for them as they come up against an experienced Olympics side. Coach Rainer Kraft and his charges will need to pass such tests if they are to stay in the league. The likes of Fredrick Asante, Rauf Salifu and Rashid Abubakar will need to step up if they are to take anything from the game.
| MATCH INFO | |||
| Venue | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | ||
| Date and Time | Sunday November 7, 2021 3:00pm | ||
| Form | Olympics: D | Accra Lions: D | |
| Position | 8th (1 pt) | 9th (1 pts) | |
PREDICTION: 3-1
MEDEAMA VS BIBIANI GOLD STARS (POSTPONED TO NOV. 9, 2021)
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