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Asante Kotoko manager Prosper Narteh Ogum will be forced to work around the absence of some key players for this afternoon’s Premier League battle with WAFA.

The Porcupines will continue to miss captain Abdul Ganiyu, Richmond Lamptey, Justice Blay, Isaac Oppong and others who have been ruled out of the season due to injuries.

Imoro Ibrahim and Richard Boadu are suspended for this clash due to cards accumulations. Patrick Asmah also have been suspended indefinitely by the club for indiscipline.

Danlad Ibrahim will continue in post and will be flanked by Christopher Nettey and Charles Owusu in the absence of Imoro and Asmah. Yusif Mubarik and Appau are expected to partner in the heart of defense.

In midfield, Mudasiru Salifu is expected to start in midfield to bring stability and cut the supplies from WAFA and will partner Sheriff Mohammed and Fabio Gama.

Upfront, Georges Mfegue is expected to start from the left side of the attack with Stephen Amankona operating from the right side.

In-form Franck Etouga is likely to continue up front.

Asante Kotoko possible XI:   

Danlad Ibrahim (GK), Christopher Nettey, Charles Owusu, Yusif Mubarik, Andrews Appau, Sheriff Mohammed, Mudasiru Salifu, Fabio Gama, Stephen Amankona, Georges Mfegue, Franck Etouga.

Just like visiting the Nana Agyemang Badu Park, the Red Bull Arena in Sogakope is another venue away teams don’t dream of winning over there. Therefore, the celebration for a draw is tantamount to that of a win.

Asante Kotoko will be put to a massive test at Sogakope against West Africa Football Academy(WAFA) this afternoon in match week 27 of the ongoing season.

WAFA might be the favourite to win the tie but Kotoko have been impressive in their last two visits though the latter have never won at the venue.

The Reds recorded a 0-0, 1-1, 1-1 draw in 2018, 2020 and 2021 respectively the last time they faced the Academy boys away. The last time WAFA beat Kotoko at home was in 2017 where they won 2-0.

This game is apparently not the top liner of the weekend but it has all that it takes to be a must-watch game. Will Kotoko end their winless run at Sogakope? Will Kotoko duo Mfegue and Etouga have yet another good game?

Questions that keep all local football enthusiasts in a much-anticipated mood ahead of the game.

WAFA have not been convincing at home- which used to a slaughterhouse for most clubs including the Porcupines.

A win for Kotoko would extend their lead a the top of the league while WAFA’s 

WAFA would need a win to boost their chances of avoiding relegation as they are languishing second-bottom on the table and must navigate their path against the league leaders who are winless in their last two matches.

Kotoko on the other hand, would want to win to end their two-game winless streak to boost their Premier League title chase.

Match details

WAFA vs Asante Kotoko
Time: 3 PM
Venue: Red Bull Arena

Where to watch:

The game is slated for a 3 pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon, and it will be broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247.

League leaders Asante Kotoko face an uphill task on Match Day 27 of the Premier League as they travel to Sogakope as guest of WAFA on Saturday, April 30, 2022.

The Academy Boys are second from bottom in the League table but their guests are under pressure to end a two match winless run to get their title ambitions on track as they need three wins from the 8 remaining matches to win the League title.

The WAFA Park – once a fortress, how now become a comfortable arena for visiting teams. The Sogakope lads have been underwhelming in the League especially at home following defeats to Karela United, AshantiGold SC and King Faisal.

They have a superior home record against Asante Kotoko as the Porcupine Warriors have yet to win a match at Sogakope – but their current form leaves much to be desired.

The Academy boys have amassed 26 points from 26 matches and sit i the 17th place in the League log. A defeat on Saturday will deepen their woes as they badly need the points to save their season.

Asante Kotoko, lead the League table with 52 points – 7 points ahead of second placed Bechem United but recent results have not gone their way – thus increasing the pressure on Head Coach Prosper Narteh Ogum.

The former Ebusua Dwarfs trainer is heading back to Sogakope for the first time in 9 months – having joined the Reds from the Academy Boys after leading them to a third place finish in the 2020/21 season.

Asante Kotoko has for the first time this season suffered two defeats on the spin following losses to Legon Cities (3-1) at the Baba Yara Stadium and a 2-1 away defeat to Real Tamale United in Tamale on Match Day 25.

The leaders will be without Patrick Asmah (suspended) and Imoro Ibrahim (accumulated yellow cards) leaving Coach Prosper Ogum with some selection headache ahead of the game.

The match is scheduled for the WAFA Park at 3pm on Saturday, April 30, 2022 and live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247.

Former Karela United goalkeeper and captain, Isaac Hagan has called time on his playing career at age 28.

Hagan who aided the Pride and Passions side qualification to the Ghana Premier League in 2017 has wretchedly announced he can no longer continue his football profession due to personal reasons.

Isaac Hagan has been out football since leaving Karela United in the 2019/2020 season.

The Ex-B.A United and Liberty Professionals netminder took to his social media handles to announce his retirement;

“I will like to take this opportunity to thank soccer Mercenaries, Liberty Professionals, B.A United, Karela United, the people of Nzema Aryinase n the whole football fraternity for being supportive in my football career as i announced my early retirement due to personal reasons God knows.“

He was a member of the 2019 Black Stars B team that finished 2nd in the WAFU Nations championship staged in Senegal under Maxwell Konadu.

The Porcupine Warriors boss has revealed the players he would use to face his former side in the make or break encounter on Saturday

Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Ogum Narteh has named a 21-man squad which he will use to face his former club West African Football Academy on matchday 27 of Ghana Premier League at the Academy Park in Sogakope on Saturday.

After two defeats in a row, Kotoko are in a dire need of victory as other clubs gradually close in on them in the title chase. Despite Bechem United’s inability to win any of their last two games, they have been able to reduce the gap between them and Kotoko to seven and another slip by Ogum’s side will means that Bechem could further reduce the difference.

Influential captain captain Abdul Ganiu Ismail started training with his colleagues early this week after the injury he sustained several weeks ago but Ogum may not risk him.

Also, midfielder Richmond Lamptey could not make the matchday squad since he is yet to recover from the knee injury he picked up more than a fortnight ago.

Moreover, Imoro Ibrahim has been suspended ahead of the game due to accumulated yellow cards and his back up Patrick Asmah has also been ruled out of the fixture due to the club’s decision to suspend him.

Asmah reportedly had a bust up with head coach Prosper Ogum Narteh during training earlier this week.

Asmah then left the pitch fuming and allegedly accused the coach of being bias in his selections as he picks players based on favouritism and not on merit.

In the absence of the duo, Charles Owusu is expected to start the game. Although, the youngster struggled against King Faisal in the Kumasi derby a couple of weeks ago, he is the only player left to fill the void.

Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’ will also miss the game due to accumulated yellow cards. The midfielder’s yellow card recieved in the 3-1 loss to Legon Cities last weekend means that he now has three cards.

Lastly, midfielder Justice Blay will be missed as he has been ruled out of action for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old rejoined Kotoko from Medeama in the second half of the season but his involvement has been cut short due to a knee injury he picked up against King Faisal.

Kotoko’s full squad to Sogakope.

Goalkeepers:
Danlad Ibrahim, Kwame Baah

Defenders:
Christopher Nettey, Charles Owusu, Yussif Mubarik, Maxwell Agyemang, Andrew Appau, Samuel Appiah

Midfielders:
Mudasiru Salifu, Fabio Gama, Clinton ‘Messi’ Opoku, Emmanuel Keyekeh, Sherrif Mohammed, Stephen Amankona, Dickson Afoakwa

Strikers:
Solomon Sarfo Taylor, Mbella Etouga, George Mfegue Rodrigues, Evans Adomako, Samuel Boateng

Source: Ashesgyamera

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

The Academy lads entertain the Porcupines at the Red Bull Arena in Sogakope in matchweek 27 clash.

Asante Kotoko face an uphill task as the Reds have failed to record a win at Sogakope since WAFA then Feyenoord Academy joined the premier league in 2006.

Kotoko will be looking to break that jinx and Ogum who is returning to his former side has selected his men to execute the job on Saturday.

The Porcupines during the game will be without the services of defender Imoro Ibrahim and midfielder Richard Boadu. The two players will miss the game due to their cards accumulation.

Patrick Asmah will also not be part of the team due an internal suspension.

The team is still missing the services of Richmond Lamptey, captain Abdul Ganiyu who recently picked up injuries but they are expected to return in next weekend’s game.

Below is the full squad:

Goalkeepers: Danlad Ibrahim, Kwame Baah

Defenders: Andrews Appau, Mubarik Yusif, Samuel Appiah, Christopher Nettey, Maxwell Agyemang, Charles Owusu.

Midfielders: Emmanuel Keyekeh, Sheriff Mohammed, Fabio Gama, Mudasiru Salifu, Clinton Opoku

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

Hearts of Oak midfielder Abdul-Aziz Nurudeen has made a comeback to training after recovering from a thigh injury, according to an official update released by the Rainbow club on Friday.

Once he is passed fit by the medical team, the 23-year-old should be available for selection into the Coach Samuel Boadu’s squad for the Ghana Premier League match-day 27 fixture against Dreams FC in Accra on Sunday.

The former Vision FC player was ruled out for weeks due to the thigh injury, which forced him to miss one MTN FA Cup assignment against Skyy FC and two GPL games against Elmina Sharks and Accra Lions.

Prior to the injury, Nurudeen’s last game for Hearts of Oak was against Asante Kotoko in Kumasi on April 10, where he emerged as the subject of controversy in the penalty decision awarded by Referee Kenny Padi for supposedly bringing down Fabio Gama.

The former Black Meteors midfielder has made 10 GPL appearances for Hearts of Oak this season.

Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak defender Robert Sowah is yet to resume training after picking up an ankle injury in the GPL game against Kotoko in Kumasi.

Asante Kotoko will be without two of their key players when they visit WAFA SC on Sunday afternoon.

The Porcupines return to Premier League action in a 3 pm kick-off clash, looking to recover from last week’s defeat to Legon Cities in Kumasi.

The Porcupines during the game will be without the services of defender Imoro Ibrahim and midfielder Richard Boadu.

The two players will miss the game due to their cards accumulation.

The duo have been most influential to the good run of Asante Kotoko’s form with Imoro assisting five times for the club.

But there are good news for the club as captain Abdul Ganiyu have recovered from his injury and have started training with the rest of the squad at AJ.

A win for Kotoko would extend their lead a the top of the league while WAFA’s chances of avoiding relegation will be very difficult.