FootyDream

Seydou Zerbo has selected his 20 players for Asante Kotoko for their Ghana Premier League game against Samartex.

The Porcupine Warriors will host the newly-promoted side at the Baba Yara Stadium this afternoon.

Yusif Mubarik and Isaac Oppong who missed the last two games have made a return to the match-day squad list while Frederick Asare, Georges Mfegue Omgba, and Solomon Sarfo Taylor miss out on the squad.

Justice Blay who has been out due to an injury has maintained his place in the squad.

Kotoko are hoping to secure positive results against Samartex after losing to Bechem United last Thursday to halt their unbeaten streak in the ongoing Ghana Premier League season.

Kick-off has been scheduled to kick off at 15:00GMT.

Squad below:

GOALKEEPERS

• Danlad Ibrahim (GK)
• Pouaty Moise (GK)

DEFENDERS

• Andrews Kwadwo Appau
• Sheriff Mohammed
• Yusif Mubarik
• Samuel Appiah
• John Tedeku
• Augustine Agyapong
• Nicholas Osei Bonsu

MIDFIELDERS

• Richard Boadu
• Enoch Morrison
• Justice Blay
• Nicholas Mensah
• Eric Zeze Serge
• Ernest Osei Poku
• Richmond Lamptey

FORWARDS

• Samuel Boateng
• Dickson Afoakwa
• Isaac Oppong
• Steven Mukwala

Hearts of Oak on Saturday afternoon won their second game of the season, defeating Kotoku Royals by a single goal at Cape Coast Stadium.

Slavko Matic men’s team came into the game full of confidence after ending their winless streak last weekend with a comeback win against Bibiani GoldStars in Accra, and they added another win to move into the top half of the table.

Daniel Afriyie Barnieh was the hero, scoring the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 31st minute.

The attacker has established himself as one of Ghana’s best penalty-takers, so it was no surprise that he chose to take this one after being fouled by Royals goalkeeper Clinton Quaye.

Barnieh, a member of Ghana’s preliminary squad of 55 players for the World Cup in Qatar, converted expertly to secure three points for the Phobians.

The victory is also the second in two games for new coach Matic, who was appointed after Samuel Boadu was fired due to the club’s poor start.

Matic has begun to produce good results, and fans will be hoping that he continues to do so as they aim for their second league title in three seasons.

Following the latest defeat, Kotoku Royals are likely to end the weekend in the relegation zone, extending their winless streak to four games.

Accra Lions are temporarily top of the Ghana Premier League table after defeating Nsoatreman FC 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.

The capital-based club has had a very strong start to the new league season and seems unstoppable at the moment.

Prior to today, Accra Lions FC had won three matches consecutively even though head coach Ibrahim Tanko had at a point been away on national team duty.

Hosting Nsoatreman FC in a matchday five encounter of the Ghana Premier League season today, the in-form side played some fine football to cruise to victory.

In a game played at the Accra Sports Stadium, Daniel Kwame Awuni scored in the 10^th minute of the first half to give Accra Lions FC the lead.

Five minutes before the break, an own goal from Richard Akrofi doubled the lead for Accra Lions to the delight of the home fans.

Despite a strong performance from Nsoatreman FC in the second half, the team could not score and had to succumb to a 2-0 defeat at the end of the 90 minutes.

While the win sends Accra Lions to the top of the Ghana Premier League table, Nsoatreman FC have dropped to 9^th on the standings.

Hearts Of Oak head coach, Slavko Matic has named his side’s starting line-up with Kotoku Royals this afternoon.

Kickoff is 3pm.

Daniel Afriyie Barnie returns to the lineup after his exploits with the Black Meteors.

Also, Salifu Ibrahim replaces Yassan Ouatching who started against Bibiani Goldstars last week.

Here is Hearts’ line-up for the game;

Richmond Ayi
Samuel Inkoom
Dennis Korsah
Konadu Yiadom
Robert Sowah
Caleb Amankwah
Gideon Asante
Eric Esso
Gladson Awako

Salifu Ibrahim
Daniel Afriyie Barnie

BENCH

Eric Ofori Antwi

Fatawu Mohammed

Rashid Okine

Zakari Yakubu

Adomako Baafi

Jeordan Otanga

Isaac Mensah

Suraj Seidu

Benjamin Yorke

Asante Kotoko have been offered new hope of revival ahead of weekend game against FC Samartex in the Ghana Premier League.

Defeat at Bechem United means the defending champions are broken down but there are still hopes to get things on the right track when they welcome Samatex to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The Porcupine Warriors have seen their league running crushed down following defeat at Bechem United in outstanding game on Thursday afternoon. Thanks to Kofi Agbesimah and Emmanuel Avornyor who struck in each half to hand the champions their first loss of the season.

The defeat breaks Kotoko’s 2-game winning streak which the Reds need the vary preparations to bounce back stronger in Sunday’s game against Samartex.

Kotoko began their Ghana Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Hearts of Oak before two straight victories against Nsoatreman FC and King Faisal last Sunday send them to an unbeaten stance.

Thursday’s loss is something the Reds never wanted but positive winds have already began blowing in their camp with assistant coach Abdulai Gazale raising hopes for victory against newly promoted side Samartex.

The assistant coach is confident and has stated that his charges will correct thier mistakes back at home.

“Technically, our boys didn’t play out to expectation. We caused the second goal and have ourselves to blame.

“We couldn’t balance while we were attacking, so they capitalized on that to score that second goal.

“So we will go back to Kumasi to correct our mistakes because we were lucky (not to concede more goals), we could have conceded three or more because of our attacking imbalance, Abdulai Gazale said in post-match interview after Kotoko’s defeat at Bechem United.

Asante Kotoko sit fifth on the table with 7 points, 3 more below league leaders Aduana Stars. Victory on Sunday as anticipated by Abdulai Gazale will set Kotoko on track for their title defense.

However, loss of points will hamper their chances to make it two GPL titles in a row though it’s early season.