Great Olympics will renew rivalry with Medeama SC on Matchday five of the betPawa Premier League at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday.

The Wonder Club are enjoying a very strong start to the season having won two and drawn two in the first four matches of the campaign.

Great Olympics opened the season with a 1-0 win against Bechem United before drawing 1-1 with city rivals Accra Hearts of Oak on Matchday two. Accra Hearts of Oak went on to beat King Faisal 1-0 in Accra before picking a vital away point against Samartex 1996 on Matchday four. The Dade Boys are yet to lose at home this season and would aim for a third straight home win to move up the table.

Samuel Abbey Ashie-Quaye and Abdul Razak Yussif have returned from international duty and are available for selection.

The duo were absent last week due to their involvement in the Black Meteors in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Kumasi.

Medeama SC, come into the game fresh from two consecutive defeats to Berekum Chelsea (1-0) and Aduana Stars (1-0). The loss at Medeama SC is a wakeup call to Coach David Duncan and his lads after taking off on a flying note. Medeama SC secured a 1-0 win against Legon Cities and continued with a remarkable fight back to win Real Tamale United 3-2 at the Akoon Paerk in Tarkwa where the Northern giants took a 2-0 first half lead on Matchday two.

The game presents an opportunity to the Tarkwa based clubs to make amends after going two straight games without a win. For Great Olympics and Coach Yaw Preko, a win on Monday will push them back into the top four having dropped out on Sunday after Asante Kotoko’s win against Samartex 1996.

The match is scheduled for 3pm kickoff at the Accra Sports stadium and will be broadcast live StarTimes Adepa Channel 247.

Hearts of Oak new coach Slavko Matic wants to bring competition to the team after securing back-to-back Premier League wins.

The Phobians defeated Kotoku Royals 1-0 on match week five courtesy of Daniel Afriyie Barnieh’s strike from the penalty spot.

The win lifted Hearts 7th on the league table but speaking in a post-match interview, coach Matic was not happy with his team’s performance.

“I want to bring competition in the team,” said Matic after the game.

“I have said [that] I want to get a better option for us, we have a lot of games and every player would play.”

On the win over Kotoku Royals, he added, “We must play more with the ball like we did in the first half.

“We created more chances in the second half but we sat back a little we should have changed the system and formation but we did what is necessary for the team.”

Matchday 5 of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League did not disappoint with drama and goals witnessed by all over the weekend across the venues.

Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak both won their games on matchday 5 to move up the Ghana Premier League table.

Kotoko needed a late comeback to defeat stubborn Samartex in Kumasi and avoid a second straight defeat after a 2-0 loss to Bechem United last Thursday.

Samartex took the lead four minutes after halftime, but they couldn’t hold on, with Kotoko scoring twice in the final eight minutes to secure victory on home soil.

Defender Nicholas Mensah equalised for Kotoko in the 78th minute before Augustine Agyagong won with a free kick in the 86th minute. Kotoko have climbed up to third due to the win.

Hearts of Oak won again on Saturday, following up on their hard-fought victory over Bibiani GoldStars the previous weekend.

Hearts of Oak beat Kotoku Royals 1-0 in Cape Coast, with the goal coming from a contentious penalty decision. Daniel Afriyie Barnieh converted the penalty to score the Phobians’ first goal of the season.

This is the club’s second league victory under Slavko Matic, who took over when the team had yet to win a game. The two victories have propelled them from the bottom half of the standings to the top six.

Aduana Stars maintained their lead in the table with a 1-0 win over Legon Cities in Dormaa, thanks to a first-half goal from Isaac Mintah. The Ogya club are looking like genuine title contenders this season, with four wins, a draw, and no losses in five games.

Aduana Stars are surprisingly followed closely by the Accra Lions, who have 12 points, one less than the leaders. Accra Lions, who made their league debut last season, beat Nsoatreman 2-0 on Saturday to extend their winning streak to four games.

Karela United won at home by a solitary goal against Bechem United, while Real Tamale United earned a surprise first win against Berekum Chelsea to move out of the relegation zone.

Scores at a glance:

Friday
DAWU: Dreams 0-0 Tamale City

Man of the match: Bawa Martey -GK (Dreams FC)

Saturday
CAPE COAST: Kotoku Royals 0-1 Hearts of Oak

Scorer: Daniel Afriyie Barnieh (pen)

Man of the match: Kingsley Afriyie (Kotoku Royals)

ACCRA: Accra Lions 2-0 Nsoatreman FC

Scorers: Daniel Kwame Awuni, Frederick Asante

Man of the match: Jacob Amu Mensah (Accra Lions)

Sunday
DORMAA: Aduana Stars 1-0 Legon Cities

Scorer: Isaac Mintah

Man of the match: Kwame Adom Frimpong (Aduana Stars)

GOLDEN CITY: Berekum Chelsea 1-2 RTU

Scorers: Owusu Osei || David Abagna, Ronald Frimpong

Man of the match: Issah Kuka (RTU)

ANYINASE: Karela United 1-0 Bechem United

Scorer: Enoch Agblenyo

Man of the match: Daniel Kwoffie (Karela United)

BIBIANI: Goldstars 2-1 King Faisal

Scorers: Ibrahim Laar(2x) || Mohammed Haruna

Man of the match: Ibrahim Laar (Gold Stars)

BABA YARA: Asante Kotoko 2-1 Samartex

Scorers: Nicholas Mensah, Augustine Agyapong || Prince Antwi

Man of the match: Justice Blay (Kotoko)

Monday
Great Olympics 1-0 Medeama

Scorer: Yusif Abdul Razak

Man of the match: Razak Kasim (Olympics)

TOP SCORERS CHART

Enoch Agblenyo (Karela) – 3
Mezack Afriyie (B. Chelsea) -3
Abubakar Seidu (Samartex) – 2
Bright Adjei (Aduana Stars) – 2
Issah Kuka (RTU) – 2
Kofi Asmah (Medeama) – 2
Kwame Adom Frimpong (Aduana Stars) – 2
Kwesi Donsu (Medeama) – 2
Stephen Diyou (Nsoatreman FC ) – 2
Nicholas Mensah (Asante Kotoko) – 2
Ibrahim Laar (Gold Stars)-2

LEAGUE TABLE

Asante Kotoko returned to winning ways following a 2-1 win over FC Samartex in a matchday 5 fixture of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League in Kumasi.

Watch highlights of the game in the video below:

https://youtu.be/vzWAliVBwHo

On Satrurday, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh scored the only goal of the game to earn Accra Hearts of Oak a 1-0 win against Kotoku Royals at the Cape Coast Stadium.

Hearts of Oak came into the game hoping to build on their first victory of the season which was a 2-1 win against Bibiani Gold Stars, while Kotoku Royals were hoping to bounce back to winning ways after losing 1-0 to Bechem United last weekend.

Kotoku Royals who were playing at home had a fast start to the game and came close to scoring in the opening minutes, but goalkeeper Richmond Ayi pulled off a good save to keep the game level.

The Phobians gathered their momentum and were rewarded with a spot kick in the 29th minute after Daniel Afriyie was fouled in the box by goalkeeper Clinton Quaye. Daniel Afriyie stepped up and converted the penalty, 1-0.

In the remaining minutes of the game, Kotoku Royals saw more of the ball and created the best chances but they were kept at bay by Richmond Ayi and the excellent Konadu Yiadom.

At the Accra Sports Stadium, Accra Lions defeated Nsoatreman 2-0 to move top of the Premier League table.

Lions opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Daniel Awuni, before Fredrick Asante doubled the score in the 41st minute.

On Friday, Dreams FC and Tamale City played out a pulsating scoreless draw at the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu.

The games will continue tomorrow, Asante Kotoko host Samrtex in Kumasi, unbeaten Aduana FC welcome Legon Cities, Karela United play Bechem United and so on.

On Sunday, Asante Kotoko after losing to Bechem United on Thursday bounced back to defeat Samartex 2-1 at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Prince Antwi scored four minutes after recess to give Samartex FC the lead. Pegged behind, it took a display of resilience for Asante Kotoko to get back into the game.

First, Nicholas Mensah equalized in the 78th minute to restore parity for the hosts before Augustine Agyepong also found the back of the Samartex FC net in the 86th minute to seal a 2-1 win for his team.

Courtesy of the victory at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Asante Kotoko are now 3rd on the Ghana Premier League table.

Aduana Stars also maintained their winning run after defeating Legon Cities at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park.

The home team shot into the lead in the 32^nd minute mark through Isaac Mintah but the second department of the game did not produce any goal as Aduana secure a 1-0 win over Legon Cities on home turf.

At the Dun’s Park in Bibiani, highly-rated attacker, Ibrahim Laar was the hero for Bibiani Gold Stars when the team defeated King Faisal 2-1.

The efforts of King Faisal only saw the team half the deficit in injury time when Mohammed Haruna converted a penalty kick.

The defeat is the fifth consecutive suffered by King Faisal since the start of the Ghana Premier League.

At the Golden City Park, Berekum Chelsea were unable to make their home ground count after suffering defeat against Real Tamale United.

The visitors shot into the lead after just 11 minutes through captain David Sandan Abagna.

Midfielder Ronald Frimpong doubled his sides lead in the 75^th minute mark to make it 2-0.

But Osei Owusu grabbed his sides consolation goal in 10 minutes later to make it 2-1 at the end of the game.

In the last game on Sunday, Karela United at the Crossby Awuah Park pipped Bechem United courtesy Enock Agblenyo’s 29th minute strike.

Gameweek Five Results

Saturday

Kotoku Royals 0-1 Hearts of Oak
Accra Lions 2-0 Nsoatreman
Dreams 0-0 Tamale City

Sunday

Asante Kotoko 2-1 Samartex
Aduana Stars 1-0 Legon Cities
Berekum Chelsea 1-2 Real Tamale United
Bibiani Gold Stars 2-1 King Faisal
Karela United 1-0 Bechem United

To be played on Monday

Accra Great Olympics Vs Medeama

Asante Kotoko came from behind to defeat newly-promoted side Samartex at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The Porcupines hosted the Samreboi-based side in matchday five of the betPawa Premier League.

Prince Antwi put the visitors in front in the 49th minute after the break through a powerful shot from outside the box.

Kotoko were wasteful up front as the Reds had some near misses in the game.

The Porcupines kept pushing for an equaliser and had it through Nicholas Mensah after pouncing on a rebound free kick from Mukwala in the 78th minute.

Nine minutes later, Augustine Agyapong scored the winner through a brilliant free kick after Richmond Lamptey was fouled outside the Samartex box to pick the vital points for Seydou Zerbo’s men.

The win give Asante Kotoko 10 points after playing five matches in the league, three points adrift leaders Aduana Stars.

Asante Kotoko coach, Seydou Zerbo has named his starting lineup for FC Samartex clash this afternoon.

The Ghana Premier League matchday 5 encounter kicks off at 3pm at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Zerbo has made three changes in his line up that lost 2-0 in their outstanding league game against Bechem United on Thursday.

Isaac Oppong, Yussif Mubarik and Ernest Osei Poku have replaced Richmond Lamptey, Andrews Appau and Dickson Afoakwa.

Below is Asante Kotoko line up for Samartex FC game

Danlad Ibrahim (GK)

Augustine Agyapong

John Tedeku

Mubarik Yussif

Sheriff Mohammed

Richard Boadu

Enoch Morrison

Ernest Osei Poku

Isaac Oppong

Steven Mukwala

Nicholas Mensah

Head Coach of the Black Galaxies, Annor Walker has disclosed that he turned down the chance to be part of a list of coaches selected by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to travel with the Black Stars to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

On Friday, the Ghana FA announced that it has settled on four coaches to travel with the Black Stars to the World Cup on a working attachment. The trip will give them an opportunity to pick useful lessons from the biggest global showpiece and learn from the Black Stars Technical team.

The quartet include, Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum, a Premier League winner, formerly of Asante Kotoko who works as an Assistant Coach of the Black Galaxies, Samuel Boadu, Premier League and FA Cup winner with Hearts of Oak, Black Meteors Coach Ibrahim Tanko and Ignatius Osei Fosu, Assistant Coach of the Black Starlets.

The move from the Ghana FA was lauded by a plethora of football footballers. However, the exclusion of Annor Walker who led Great Olympics to a top six finish in the Premier league last season and also Ghana’s local national team to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the first time since 2014 was questioned.

Reacting to the development, Annor Walker in an interview with Oyerepa FM disclosed that he was invited to be amongst the local coaches traveling to Qatar. However, he turned down the opportunity due to preparations for the CHAN tournament which kicks off in January.

“I was invited by GFA to be part of the 4 coaches going to World Cup but I declined because from 20th when World Cup starts I will be busy in camp with Black Galaxies preparing for the Algeria CHAN tournament scheduled to take place in January 2023,” Annor Walker told Oyerepa FM.

“I will even travel outside Ghana within that period as well so we both agreed I can’t be part due to my national team engagement,” he added.

Ghana have been drawn in Group C for the group stages of the CHAN which kicks off on Friday, January, 13. The Black Galaxies are drawn alongside holders Morocco, two-time bronze winners Sudan and debutants Madagascar.