Posted by Match week 13 brings us yet another set of enthralling fixtures. Karela and Asante Kotoko will kickoff the match week on Friday evening. The biggest fixture of the gameweek takes place at Dormaa, Aduana Stars welcome Ashanti Gold, whiles the “Accra Derby” between Inter Allies and Hearts of Oak will take place in Accra.
We take a look at what to expect in all 9 fixtures:
KARELA VS ASANTE KOTOKO (FRIDAY)
Karela United will welcome Asante Kotoko to the Akoon Park for the first fixture of match week 13. The home side hasn’t won a league game since defeating Legon cities by 3-0 in gameweek 7, they’ve since then lost 3 games and drawn 2, an awful record they’ll like to turn around on Friday. After losing to Aduana Stars in the league and Division One side Asokwa Deportivo in the FA Cup, Kumasi Asante Kotoko last weekend bounced back to winning ways after coming from a goal down to beat Bechem United 3-1. The victory pushed the club into the top 4 and just 2 points behind league leaders Medeama. Kotoko will hope to capitalize on Karela’s bad form and make it 2 wins in 2 come Friday evening.
Match trivia: Karela have won just 1 of their last 9 league games.
Venue: Akoon Park, Tarkwa
Kickoff time: 3pm
Match Officials: Referee: Rustum Gameli Senorgbe Assistants: John Nyavor and Francis Bondzie A. 4th Official: Emmanuel Tampuri Match Commissioner: Annan Lomotey
Prediction: 0-1
LEGON CITIES VS WAFA (FRIDAY)
“The draw experts” will face off at the Accra Sports Stadium for a Friday night date. Legon cities and WAFA have drawn 7 games each, the most in the league this season. The Royals so far are the team to match up in terms of their performance off the field, but they’ve failed to transform that onto the field, they’ve won just 2 games this season, only better than King Faisal. Scoring goals has been a herculean task for Legon Cities, they’ve scored just 8 goals all season, the least in the league. WAFA last weekend battered Ashanti Gold by 6-1 in Sogakope to bring an end to 4 consecutive league draws. WAFA are the only unbeaten side on the road in the league, they’ve won twice and drawn 4 times. The Sogakope side have already played twice at the Accra Sports Stadium this season, picking up a draw against Inter Allies and beating Great Olympics by 1-0. They’ll hope that form continues on Friday night.
Match trivia: Legon cities and WAFA have drawn 7 games each, the most in the league this season
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium
Kickoff time: 7pm
Match Officials: Referee: Alphonso Atiapah Assistants: Tijani Mohammed and Isaac Opoku Antwi 4th Official: Gabriel Opoku Arhin Match Commissioner: J Y Tagbolo
Prediction: 1-1
ELMINA SHARKS VS LIBERTY PROFESSIONALS (SATURDAY)
Elimina Sharks are the in form side in the league. The fearsome Sharks have won 3 of their last 4 games and recorded an impressive draw against Hearts of Oak in Accra last weekend. Benjamin Boateng within that time has scored 5 times, an impressive performance that has seen him nominated for the Nasco player of the month of February. Liberty Professionals after having a poor start to the season at home have improved their home form, but their away form in recent times has dipped and is nothing to write home about, they’ve lost their last two away games.
Match trivia: Elmina Sharks are unbeaten against Liberty in the league in 2 attempts, they’ve won 1 and drawn 1. Less than 3 goals has been scored in all 3 games.
Venue: Nduom Sports Complex
Kickoff time: 3pm
Match Officials: Referee: Abdulai Ibrahim Assistants: Papala Patrick and Dakura Soglo Augustine 4th Official: Ali Musah Match Commissioner: Felix Adjetey Sowah
Prediction: 1-0
GREAT OLYMPICS VS EBUSUA DWARFS (SATURDAY)
Two teams battling to avoid the drop Great Olympics and Ebusua Dwarfs will meet on Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium. Great Olympics are having a torrid time, they’ve lost 3 of their last 4 games and have also lost their last 3 home games. Olympics have lost a total of 4 games at home this season, the most by any side at home. Dwarfs after losing their first 5 games have done fairly okay in recent times, they’ve won 3 games and drawn 2 out of 7, including impressive victories against Aduana Stars and Berekum Chelsea, but their away form hasn’t change. They’ve picked just a point on the road this season, the least picked by any side on the road.
Match trivia: Great Olympics have lost 4 games at home this season, the most by any side in the league at home.
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium
Kickoff time: 3pm
Match Officials: Referee: Jones Akubiem Assistants: Emmanuel Allou Tebson and Gilbert Adom Mensah 4th Official: Bernard Domfeh Match Commissioner: Oduro Nyarko
Prediction: 1-0
KING FAISAL VS MEDEAMA ( SATURDAY)
It’s last versus first between King Faisal and Medeama at the Nana Ameyaw Park. King Faisal are having a season to forget, the Kumasi based side are yet to win a game in 12 attempts. Alhaji Grusah’s side have one of the best attacks in the league, they’ve scored 16 goals but it has been a different story at the other end of the field, King Faisal have conceded 27 goals, 9 more than any other side. They also yet to record a clean sheet all season. Medeama on Monday defeated Great Olympics by 1-0 to go top of the league. Medeama have recorded back to back victories since the first two games of the season and will come into this game brimming with confidence. Prince Opoku Agyeman has so far has scored 9 league goals this season and will really fancy playing against a King Faisal defense that has conceded 27 times in just 12. Ibrahim Osman of King Faisal also has 8 goals, but the youngster’s industry gets dimmed by his side’s dreadful performance week in week out.
Match trivia:
Venue: Nana Ameyaw Park
Kickoff time: 3pm
Match Officials: Referee: Maxwell Owusu Assistants: Isaac Odoom and Isaac Asante 4th Official: Bismark Appiah Match Commissioner: Collins Adu Yeboah
Prediction: 1-2
ADUANA STARS VS ASHANTI GOLD (SUNDAY)
The top liner of the weekend takes place in Dormaa. Aduana Stars will welcome Ashanti Gold to the Nana Agyemang Badu Park. The Dormaa sit second on the league table, just behind league leaders Medeama on goals difference. Aduana have been solid at home this season, they’ve failed to win in Dormaa just once this season, which was a scoreless game against another potential league winners Hearts of Oak. The Ogyaa boys have also recorded back to back victories for the first time since gameweek 3. Ashanti Gold last weekend were whitewashed in Sogakope by WAFA, they lost the game by 6-1. The defeat ended a run of 5 games without conceding a goal, it was also just the 3rd game in which Ashanti Gold have conceded in this season. They’ll hope they can bounce back this weekend in Dormaa, at a ground and against a side that hasn’t lost at home since February 2016.
Match trivia: Aduana are unbeaten at the Nana Agyeman Badu Park in the league since February 2016.
Venue: Nana Agyeman Badu I Park
Kickoff time: 3pm
Match Officials: Referee: Julian Nunoo Assistants: Roland Addy and Ali Timuah Baah 4th Official: Emmanuel Eshun Match Commissioner: Paul Ayamba
Prediction: 1-0
BECHEM UNITED VS DREAMS SC (SUNDAY)
Bechem United and Dreams will face off on Saturday at the Nana Gyeabour Park. The Bechem side last weekend recorded their 5th defeat of the season and 5th defeat on the road when they lost by 3-1 to the Porcupine warriors in Accra. The Bechem side are in tremendous form at home and have picked virtually all their points this season at home. They’ve failed to win or score at home just once all season, which was in match week 2 against Liberty Professionals. Dreams are having a difficult time, they’ve lost 5 of their last 7 league games, drawn 1 and lost the other one. Dreams have managed to pick just a point in the last 4 games and have also failed to score in all 4 games. They’ll will hope they can turn around their misfortunes come Sunday, but they won’t come the easiest way.
Match trivia: Dreams haven’t scored in their last 4 league games.
Venue: Nana Gyeabour Park
Kickoff time: 3pm
Match Officials: Referee: Charles Bulu Assistants: Paul Atimaka and Richard Appiah 4th Official: Martin Akudzi Match Commissioner: Andrews Derry
Prediction: 1-0
ELEVEN WONDERS VS BEREKUM CHELSEA (SUNDAY)
Eleven Wonders and Berekum Chelsea will lock horns at the Ohene Ameyaw Park in a regional derby. Both sides will come into this game brimming with confidence. Eleven Wonders are on a 4 games unbeaten streak, they haven’t lost a game since losing at home by 3-0 to Inter Allies in match week 8. They’ve since then won 2 games and drawn 2. The home side will be counting on the form of Sule Musa, Abdul Mugesse and Ibrahim Sule to sink regional rivals Chelsea. Berekum Chelsea will also come into this game with high hopes, they come into the game at the back of two consecutive victories, against Great Olympics and King Faisal. Berekum Chelsea have the best away record in the league, they’ve won 4 times on the road, with all 4 victories being a 1-0 scoreline. Chelsea will have to improve their defense if they are to take anything at the Ohene Ameyaw Park, they’ve conceded 8 times in the last 4 games.
Match trivia: Berekum Chelsea with 4 away wins have the best away record in the league.
Venue: Ohene Ameyaw Park
Kickoff time: 3pm
Match Officials: Referee: George Mawuli Vormanor Assistants: Kwasi Brobbey Acheampong and Cephas Barlow 4th Official: Selorm Kpormegbe Match Commissioner: J. B. Yakubu
Prediction: 0-0
INTER ALLIES VS HEARTS OF OAK ( SUNDAY)
The Accra Derby awaits us this weekend, Inter Allies will be playing at home to Accra Hearts of Oak. The home team have failed to win their last 2 home games, picking up a draw against Legon Cities and losing by 2-1 to Medeama. Scoring isn’t a problem for Inter Allies, they are the top scorers in the league with 18 goals but have failed to stop the opposition from scoring in just 2 of the 12 games played. They’ve shipped in a total of 18 goals, only King Faisal have conceded more. The Phobians dream of winning the league and winning a major trophy for the first time since 2009 is gradually fading away. Hearts of Oak now sit 9th on the league table, 6 points behind league leaders Medeama. The Rainbow boys were left frustrated last time out when they failed to pick all 3 points against a resilient Elmina Sharks side. They’ve also failed to score in their last two away games, but the Inter Allies defense has failed to keep a clean sheet at home and has also conceded 10 goals at home in just 6 games, a horrendous record that will give the Phobians hope for this game. The Hearts defense will be tested by the in form and hot Victorien Adebayor, the forward has scored 11 goals in 11 games for Inter Allies this season.
Match trivia: 4 of the last 5 league games between Inter Allies and Hearts has ended in stalemate.
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium
Kickoff time: 3pm
Match Officials: Referee: Benjamin Kwame Sefa Assistants: Emmanuel Dolagbanu and Peter Dawsa 4th Official: Joshua Samadji Match Commissioner: Michael Ayeh
Prediction: 1-1