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Accra Hearts of Oak aim to bounce back to winning ways against King Faisal on match day 23 of the Ghana Premier League on Sunday.

The former champions have bagged 34 points after 22 matches and sit in 4^th place in the log. They beat King Faisal 2-1 in the first round of the season – their first away win this term and aim for the double over the Insha Allah lads.  Umar Manaf converted a last gasp penalty to give them all the spoils at the Ohene Ameyaw Park in December last year.

They have huffed and puffed in the League and changed three coaches in the course of the campaign. Edward Odoom who began the season was replaced by Kosta Papic half through the journey before Samuel Boadu succeeded him in March.

The former Asokwa Deportivo and Shooting Stars FC coach is jostling to turn things around for his new employers but results have not been overly impressive. Hearts of Oak have won two and drawn one in their last five outings – with the other two ending in defeats to AshantiGold SC and Dreams FC.

Raddy Ovouka continues to remain on the side-lines due to an injury he picked up on International duty with Congo Brazzaville – with William Dankyi being the only option at left back.

Benjamin Afutu and Frederick Ansah Botchwey are back in the team after recovering from injury – but Coach Boadu must find a suitable replacement for Nuru Sulley who got red carded against Dreams FC on Sunday.

King Faisal are 17^th in the League table with 23 points – 7 points richer than Inter Allies who sit at the foot of the table with 16 points. The Green and White have won only one match on the road – a 1-0 victory against Inter Allies on match day 21 at Dawu.

They gave away a first half lead to draw 1-1 with Karela United on Sunday and will fight every tooth and nail for the points against Hearts of Oak in their quest for survival.

Latif Salifu, Dalad Ibrahim, Paul Aidoo, Eric Donkor and Ibrahim Suraj have brought some fresh around the club – but their presence has yet to translate into results.

The match is scheduled for 6pm kick off at the Accra sports stadium on Sunday – Broadcast holder StarTimes will broadcast the match live at Adepa channel 247.

Asante Kotoko Coach Mariano Barreto is looking forward to a stiff test from Dreams FC in Saturday’s Ghana Premier League duel at the Len Clay Sports Stadium.

The two sides will face off in a match-day 23 encounter in Obuasi at 15:00 GMT.

The Porcupine Warriors are coming from their 1-0 victory over Legon Cities while visiting Dreams FC comes into the game from an impressive 2-0 against Hearts Of Oak.

Abdul Ganiyu’s strike secured all three points for the Reds in the first round fixture. However, the Portuguese trainer does not want to be carried away and reckons the clash against the Still Believe lads will not be a walk in the park.

“We have a good opponent. Dreams come strong because they made a fantastic result against Hearts. It’s a team that is behind us only a few points and they will look to go forward, ” Barretto said in a post-match press’s conference.

He also indicated that the players and mentally ready for the game.

“For us, the next match is always important. It is not because it’s Dreams FC because our target is the league. We, therefore, depend on ourselves only.

He noted that the players have started getting used to the way he wants them to play because they are committed to learning and working hard.

“They are committed to learning, working hard and trying to be a strong team. Day by day, I’m feeling that we would build a very strong team till the end of the league.”

Medeama lock horns with Liberty Professionals in a match Day-23 fixture of the Ghana Premier League at the Red Bull Arena on Sunday.

The two teams shared the spoils in a barren draw draw at the Akoon park in the corresponding fixture on December 21.

However, things have changed dramatically between the two sides since their last meeting.

Medeama have revived their campaign in a flamboyant style to reclaim top spot after a fourth successive victories in the top-flight.

Victories over Dreams FC, Legon Cities, Asante Kotoko and Sunday’s 3-0 demolishing of Ebusua Dwarfs have put the Mauve and Yellows in the driving seat at the summit of the table.

They come up against an improved Liberty Professionals side who are just a point above the relegation zone.

The scientific soccer lads managed successive wins over Elmina Sharks, Berekum Chelsea and Techiman Eleven Wonders but lost 2-0 at Great Olympics in their last encounter last weekend.

Ahead of the crucial meeting between the two sides, Medeama have team news updates which hinge on suspension, injuries and new additions.

Here are the latest updates in Yaw Preko’s camp:

Amed Toure

The Ivorian-born striker has been ruled out of the match after picking a calf injury after scoring in the side’s 3-0 win over Ebusua Dwarfs at home. He will most likely miss the next game against West African Football Academy next week as well.

Richard Boadu 

The midfielder is suspended for the match over yellow card accumulation. He picked his third yellow card in the side’s win over Ebusua Dwarfs last Sunday.

Abass Mohammed

The striker makes the squad that travels to Sogakope to battle Liberty Professionals for the first time since the start of the second half of the season.

Bright Enchill

The left-back returns to the squad after serving his suspension in the side’s heavy win over Ebusua Dwarfs. Enchill returns means Fatawu Sulemana, who provided an assist in the win over the Crabs loses his place in the team.

Theophilus Anobah

The winger makes the traveling 21-man squad for the trip to Sogakope for the first time since he joined at the start of the second round of the season.

Agyei Boakye

The midfielder makes the squad for the match against Liberty Professionals after missing out on the matches against Kotoko and Ebusua Dwarfs.

Owusu Dacosta

Third-choice goalkeeper Owusu Dacosta makes the 21-man squad for just the second since the start of the second round.

Medeama’s 21-man squad for Liberty Professionals

1.Frank Boateng (GK)

2.Eric Ofori Antwi (GK)

3. Owusu Dacosta (GK)

4. Ibrahim Yaro

5. Zana Coulibaly

6. Bright Enchill

7. Vincent Atingah

8. Baba Musah

9. Rashid Alhassan

10. Daniel Egyin

11. Benjamin Arthur

12. Eric Kwakwa

13. Rashid Nortey

14.  Agyei Boakye

15. Theophilus Anobah

16. Zakaria Mumuni

17. Ebenezer Ackahbi

18. Kwasi Donsu

19. Joseph Tetteh Zutah (C)

20. Abass Mohammed

21. Prince Opoku Agyemang

Source: Medeama SC

Abdul Manaf Mudasiru’s late strike earned Great Olympics a vital win against WAFA to go top of the Ghana Premier League. 

WAFA had fought back from two goals down to hold  Great Olympics at the Sogakope Red Bull Arena until Mudasiru climbed off the bench to clinch the winner.

Gladson Awako’s early strike and Boakye-Yiadom’s own goal gave the visitors a two-goal lead after the hour mark.

But a strong comeback from the Sogakope based outfit saw them level through Enock Asubonteng and Justus Torsutey strikes in the space of ten minutes.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play after captain Gladson Awako squeezed in a freekick after 13 minutes.

WAFA were awoken from their early slumber, dominating and creating chances but could not leveller leveler as the visitors went into the break with their noses in front.

Coach Dr. Prosper Narteh rang in his first change bringing on Kelvin Boakye Yiadom for Abdul Basit, and moments later introduced Godwin Agbevor for Lawrence Agyekum.

The former was unlucky as he turned in an Olympics shot into his own net, giving the Dade Boy a two-goal advantage on the hour mark.

WAFA showed resilience fighting back to pull one back five minutes later through Enock Asubonteng following a dominant spell by the Academy Boys.

Justus levelled with a brilliant strike to get WAFA back into the game with 15 minutes left.

But Great Olympics forward Manaf Mudasiru grabbed the winner with the final kick of the game.

Source: Ghanasoccernet