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Ghana Premier League table-toppers, Asante Kotoko stretched their lead at the summit to nine points with a 2-0 home win over third placed Medeama SC at the Akoon Park in a match-day 31 fixture on Sunday.

Andrew Appau opened the scoring for Kotoko when he headed in Ibrahim Imoro’s corner in the 23rd minute. Goal-King contender Franck Etouga Mbella doubled the lead of the Porcupine Warriors in the injury time of the first half to take his GPL goals tally to 20. The former AS Fortuna de Mfou attacker becomes the first player to score 20 GPL goals since 2013.

Kotoko finished the game with 10 men as midfielder Mudasiru Salifu, who assisted Etouga’s goal, was sent off following a second bookable offence.

The away triumph in Tarkwa ends Kotoko’s two games winless run, which came through the recent defeat to Berekum Chelsea and draw with Aduana Stars.

Etouga’s closest contender in the GPL Goal-King race, Yaw Annor struck a brace in the 27th and 89th minutes to clinch 19 GPL goals, as 10th placed AshantiGold was held to a 2-2 draw by Accra Lions at the Obuasi Len Clay.

Second placed Bechem United recorded their 6th successive stalemate and extended their winless run to 7 games, following a 1-1 away draw with demotion candidate WAFA. Bechem have not won a game since their 1-0 triumph against Great Olympics on April 4.

Berekum Chelsea relied on goals from Emmanuel Sarpong, Hanry Ainsu and Collins Ameyaw to climb three spots up to the 5th position on the log sheet with a comprehensive 3-0 home win over relegated Elmina Sharks at the Golden City Park.

King Faisal needed a 90th minute goal from Enoch Morrison to force out a 1-1 draw with Great Olympics at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, after Ibrahim Sulley had given the visitors the lead in the 25th minute.

In other games, midtable Legon Cities were held to a 1-1 draw by 11th placed Bibiani Gold Stars while RTU played out a 0-0 draw with Techiman Eleven Wonders in Tamale. Aduana Stars dropped one spot lower to the 6th position after recording a 0-0 draw with Dreams FC in Dormaa.

Altogether, 15 goals were recorded in the GPL on Sunday from 8 games played, with 1 home win, 1 away win and 6 stalemates.

Below is the current GPL Table:

Not many Ghana Premier League (GPL) pundits gave him and Asante Kotoko the chance to be champions. Of course, coming from a season where arch rivals Hearts of Oak had shown stellar form to outrun us to be league winners for the first time in over a decade, it was no surprise Hearts were seen as favourites.

Hearts won the FA Cup too. All eyes were on them, not Kotoko who had signed new coach, Dr. Prosper N. Ogum with a sizeable number of new players. A new fabulous team was up for the 2021/22 GPL season. Kotoko’s Dubai pre-season matches recorded losses that cast more doubts on our form.

Not even the everlasting knowledge that Kotoko are always a GPL title favourite swayed pundits’ opinion. Let it be known that Kotoko have clout. Our clout is one that has no equal in the GPL. This clout is what ensures that, new coaches at the club backed by sound management practices and fine players would invariably be league champions.

Three examples suffice. Bashir Hayford, Maxwell Konadu and Didi Dramani are coaches who Kotoko’s clout contributed to making them envied GPL title winners. It’s the turn of Ogum. He’s close to being a GPL title winning coach just like Bash, Konadu and Didi did in their first season. Those who gave Ogum no chance have revised their notes.

After disappointing outcomes against Legon Cities, Aduana Stars and Berekum Chelsea, Ogum has won at last at Tarkwa beating Medeama 2-0. Ogum has been rewriting Kotoko’s scripts – winning where the team hasn’t won in the GPL or have indeed, found it difficult to win in years. In sum, Ogum wins where eagles fear.

First, he ended a 13-year wait for a win over Aduana Stars at Dormaa. He also beat WAFA, the team he coached before joining Kotoko, at Sogakope. Thus, twice this season, Ogum has led the Porcupines to two unprecedented victories in the GPL.

The latest win over Medeama at Tarkwa is first in nearly eight years. Aside keeping the top position for weeks, under Ogum, Kotoko have had a goal-machine who has scored goals in numbers only comparable to what striker, Eric Bekoe lavished on us more than ten years ago and even that, the Cameroonian forward, Frank E. Mbella has surpassed Bekoe by three goals with his tally presently at 20.

Our unassailable lead might have been pruned but even with that, we would be the 2021/22 GPL champions and Coach Ogum, unquestionably, would be remembered for winning where eagles dared. That’s the Porcupine spirit. That said, due praise will go to the players and fans, Management and the Board for steering a victorious GPL season.

Elmina Sharks have dropped from the Ghana Premier League to the Division One League following Sunday’s 3-0 defeat against Berekum Chelsea.

The Sharks appeared to have a chance of surviving another week, as WAFA and XI Wonders were drawing.

However, goals from Emmanuel Sarpong, Henry Ainsu and Collins Ameyaw turned the game around, and Shark’s relegation to the first division was guaranteed.

Elmina Sharks were unable to maintain their Premier League status following their Championship title victory previous season, and this is the club’s first Premier League relegation.

With just three games remaining, they will have to play for pride.

Sharks, formerly Coconut Grove Sharks FC, were promoted to the top flight in 2016.

Ten-man Asante Kotoko beat Medeama SC 2-0 at the Akoon Park in a Ghana Premier League matchday 30 fixture.

Ten-man Asante Kotoko beat Medeama SC 2-0 at the Akoon Park in a Ghana Premier League matchday 30 fixture.

The win ends Kotoko’s turbulent run in recent games to open a nine-point gap at the top.

Today at the Akoon Park, Asante Kotoko presented a strong starting eleven to face off with Medeama SC in what was predicted to be a difficult game for both sides.

The visitors took the lead through defender Andrews Appau who leaped highest to head home Imoro Ibrahim’s corner kick in the 23rd-minute.

Fortunately the goal did not demoralise the Tarkwa-based side who kept searching for the equaliser, with their danger man, Kwadwo Asamoah, at his best, creating chances, and also thwarting the many threats by Kotoko.

When it seemed Medeama were in control of the game, Kotoko took advantage of the relapse in their defence to launch a counter attack on the 45th minute when Mudasiru Salidu released Franck Etouga who calmly slot home for his 20th league goal of the season.

Before the break Mudasiru was shown the red card after receiving his second yellow card in the game. His absense did not break the Porcupines and they returned to hold on to the 2-0 lead to win the game.

Courtesy of the win and the three points, Asante Kotoko are now on 59 points and with a healthy 9 points ahead of Bechem United and Medeama.

Asante Kotoko have one outstanding game against their regional rivals Ashantigold at Len Clay Stadium on Thursday.

The Porcupine Warriors boss has made four changes in his squad to face Medeama in the top of the table clash

Asante Kotoko coach Prosper Ogum Narteh has made four changes in his squad to face Medeama in the Ghana Premier League matchday 31 at the T&A Park on Sunday.

Captain Abdul Ganiu Ismail who returned from a long injury lay off to feature in the 1-0 defeat to Berekum Chelsea last weekend has been dropped. In his place, coach Ogum has opted to start Maxwell Agyemang who will partner Andrew Appau in the center of defence.

Also, Cameroonian striker Georges Mfegue Rodrigues has been benched for Samuel Boateng while Richmond Lamptey comes in for Stephen Amankona.

Again, Evans Adomako is expected to take the place of Evans Adomako is expected to start in the Fabio Gama.

Kotoko are hoping to end their poor run of results in order to widen their advantage at the top of the Premier League log. They are yet to score more than a goal in their last nine games.

Kotoko XI vs Medeama:

Ibrahim Danlad (GK), Christopher Nettey, Maxwell Agyemang, Imoro Ibrahim, Andrews Apau, Mudasiru Salifu (C), Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’, Richmond Lamptey, Evans Adomako, Etouga Mbella, Samuel Boateng

-Ashesgyamera

Head coach, Prosper Narteh Ogum has named Asante Kotoko’s 20-man traveling squad for Sunday’s epic clash against Medeama SC.

The Mauve and Yellow lads entertain the Porcupines at the Akoon Park in Tarkwa in matchweek 30 clash.

Asante Kotoko face an uphill task as the Reds have failed to record a win in their last five visits to Tarkwa. Losing four and drawing once.

Kotoko will be looking to end their poor record in Tarkwa with Prosper Narteh Ogum selecting his men to execute the job on Sunday.

With six points separating the two clubs, Kotoko must pick the maximum points at Tarkwa to increase the points gap between them.

The Porcupines during the game will be without the services of defender  Abdul Ganiyu, Amankona, Charles Owusu and Sheriff Mohammed.

Below is the full squad:

Goalkeepers: Danlad Ibrahim, Kwame Baah

Defenders: Andrews Appau, Mubarik Yusif, Samuel Appiah, Christopher Nettey, Maxwell Agyemang, Imoro Ibrahim.

Midfielders: Emmanuel Keyekeh, Fabio Gama, Richmond Lamptey, Richard Boadu, Mudasiru Salifu.

Attackers: Georges Mfegue, Franck Etouga, Dickson Afoakwa, Andy Kumi, Samuel Boateng, Evans Adomako, Sarfo Taylor.