Asante Kotoko suffered their first away league defeat of the 2020/21 campaign against Elmina Sharks at Ndoum Sports Complex.
Alhaji Mustapha scored the only goal for Elmina Sharks FC in the match-day 17 battle on Friday, March 5, 2021.
The encounter which was the last game of the first round of the Ghana Premier League between the two teams was full of excitement and fireworks as Elmina Sharks FC be the omes first team to defeat the Porcupine Warriors on the road.
In the first 45 minutes of the match, the game was a fairly balanced one as both teams made great incursions for the first goal but failed to score the numerous chances they created.
The hosts made several penalty shouts but were ignored by the Centre referee.
Striker Kwame Opoku came close to scoring the opener after beating the goalkeeper but his effort was cleared off the line by the defense men of the Green and Whites.
In the second half, Alhaji Mustapha went past left-back Imoro Ibrahim in a counter-attack before slotting home the only goal of the match to secure a vital home win over the Porcupines for Elmina Sharks.
The victory gives Sharks their first game in seven matches to end their three matches losing streak in the game.
Aduana Stars central defender Farouk Adams has been charged with four additional counts after he was already charged with two for allegedly killing a police officer.
Careless and inconsiderate driving and negligently causing harm were the initial charges.
The additional charges are failing to report the accident to the police and failing to stop to attend to an accident victim.
Inspector Emmanuel Sampson, who presented the case to the Berekum circuit court, presided over by Osei Kofi Amoako said Adams was driving a Toyota Camry vehicle with registration number GW 5882-17 from Sunyani towards Dormaa-Ahenkro.
He said, the player at about 8 pm on Monday, March 1, 2021, knocked down an oncoming motorbike driven by Constable Amos Maatey Niganoka, now deceased, at a section of the road near Cocoa Station at Asuotiano in the Dormaa East district.
The prosecutor, Inspector Sampson told the court that Adams after the incident failed to stop and attend to the victim and sped off leaving the Constable there.
According to him, the suspect also failed to report the accident to the police but went and parked the accident vehicle at a Goil Filling Station and silently went to the Wamfie Polyclinic for treatment.
He also said Adams arranged with a mechanic from Sunyani to pick the vehicle to an unknown place, allegedly to make it untraceable by the police and went into hiding afterwards at Dormaa Ahenkro.
The police received information the next day, 2nd March 2021 at 7 am that there was a hit-and-run incident. They got to the scene and the victim was Constable Niganoka.
Police went to the Goil Filling Station and through CCTV surveillance, the vehicle which the accused was driving at the time of the incident was identified. Investigations at DVLA in Sunyani revealed that the said vehicle was registered in the name of Alberta Asare of Dormaa-Ahenkro.
She was then made to produce the suspected driver and the mechanic to bring the car.
According to the prosecutor, Farouk Adams was arrested and further inspection carried out on the vehicle revealed that the roadworthiness, as well as insurance covering it, had expired since June 13, 2018, while the rear number plate had also been removed.
The court on Thursday remanded him into police custody for two weeks to reappear on the 18th of March, 2021.
Former Asante Kotoko SC captain, Amos Akwasi Frimpong has signed for Ghana Premier League side Techiman Eleven Wonders.
The ex-Kotoko right-back penned down a one-year deal with the Techiman-based club on Friday, March 5, 2021.
Frimpong joined Guinean club Kaloum Stars after he left Asante Kotoko three years ago but has returned to his native country following the expiration of his contract.
He completed his mandatory medicals before signing up for the relegation-threatened club.
He is expected to use his enormous experience to aid the club escape relegation.
Inter Allies FC failed to make their home count as they were held to a 1-1 stalemate by AshantiGold SC at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday in the Ghana Premier League.
The “Eleven Is To One” is completing the first round of the season at the bottom of the premiership standings.
The draw sees the Miners move only one place up on the log from 11th to the 10th position with 22 points.
Allies boss Dani Mujkanovic made four alterations to the squad that lost 2-1 to Aduana Stars in the last league game in Dormaa Ahenkro.
Enterprising left back Fard Ibrahim returned to the starting lineup for the injured Richard Acquaah.
Felix Abuska and Alex Aso also replaced Paul Abanga and Emmanuel Adjetey in the starting XI respectively for the game.
On the other hand, AshantiGold stop-gap coach Isaac Kofi Sarfo made four changes to the team that were beaten 4-1 by Dreams FC last time.
Yaw Annor has recovered from his injury to take the place of Amos Addai in the starting lineup.
Kwame Moses replaced Richard Osei Agyemang in central whereas Empem Dacosta and Evans Obeng came in for Stephen Bentil and Mark Agyekum respectively.
The visitors had the best scoring opportunity of the first half but midfielder David Abagna Sandan fluffed the one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Rashid Seidu in the 5th minute.
Richmond Lamptey curled in a beautiful one past goalkeeper Robert Dabuo in the 62nd minute to put the home side ahead.
AshantiGold drew level in the 76th through substitute Dacosta Boadu who netted his 3rd goal of the season on his return from injury.
Allies will begin the second round of the season at away at Dreams FC likewise AshantiGold who will also make a trip to Karela United.
Asante Kotoko stop-gap coach Johnson Smith has named his starting line up to face Elmina Sharks this evening.
The Porcupines will be playing as guests to the Sharks at the Nduom Sports Stadium in matchweek 17 fixture of the Ghana Premier League at 6:00 PM.
Coach Smith has made four changes in the team that drew with Hearts of Oak last Sunday with Samuel Frimpong taking the place of Christopher Nettey who has been pushed to the right-wing position to replace injured Emmanuel Gyamfi.
Mudasiru Salifu has been handed his first start this season and will take the position of Naby Keita who will be starting from the bench with Adom Frimpong earning a place in the team to replace Latif Anabila.
Wahab Adams comes in to replace Yusif Mubarik and will partner ever-impressive Abdul Ganiu start in the heart of defense.
However, Fabio Gama will be operating from the left-wing with the club’s top scorer Kwame Opoku leading the lines in a 4-5-1 formation.
Here is the starting lineup;
Razak Abalora (GK), Samuel Frimpong, Ibrahim Imoro, Wahab Adams, Abdul Ganiu (C), Adom Frimpong, Emmanuel Sarkodie, Mudasiru Salifu, Christopher Nettey, Fabio Gama, Kwame Opoku.
Subs: Kwame Baah, Felix Annan, Habib Mohammed, Patrick Asmah, Yusif Mubarik, Andrews Appau, Naby Keita.
Mubarak Wakaso, clearly, enjoys being a Black Star.
Not that he is new to the life, of course; the midfielder has been at it since October 2012, when he made his senior Ghana debut. A little over half-a-century of appearances later, Wakaso has lost little of the zeal and passion stirred up by being in the national camp.
His latest training sessions with the Black Stars, however, have been in the company of many unfamiliar faces. In February, head coach Charles Akonnor named a fully domestic squad to begin preparations for Ghana’s upcoming pair of 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
That 32-man list was trimmed to 26, with two foreign-based internationals — Wakaso and Emmanuel Boateng — included. Both players ply their club trade in China, and have more experience with the senior national team than all their current teammates combined.
Watching the squad train together, though, you wouldn’t know it. Wakaso, especially, appears to have bonded so well that he took to his Twitter time-line to wish the local guys the best of fortunes as they return to their clubs ahead of the weekend’s round of Ghana Premier League games.
And that, for a while, got me thinking: could Wakaso join them in the Ghanaian top-flight someday soon?
??????See you guys on Monday good luck in your games this coming weekend ?? was nice a experience being with you guys ✊?❤️ @blackstarsofghanafa_ #blackstar ?? pic.twitter.com/D6ouGNDljH— M.M.JUNIOR WAKASO (@WakasoBobby) March 4, 2021
He wouldn’t be the first to stage a comeback to where it all began. The league has seen a number of returnees in recent years, the most prominent being legendary former Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan (Gladson Awako, of Accra Great Olympics, is another noteworthy example).
Gyan signed for nouveau-riche Legon Cities just before the 2020/21 campaign started, and while it hasn’t exactly been a success story (fitness issues have limited his involvement and, thus, impact) the former Sunderland striker’s decision should encourage others to return, too – Wakaso, for instance.
Since leaving Ashanti Gold in 2008, the 30-year-old has traveled the world, playing in five countries on two continents. With his current employers, Chinese Super League outfit Jiangsu FC, Wakaso won the championship — his first piece of silverware since bagging league and cup medals during a loan stint with Scotland’s Celtic – last year.
That was only four months ago, but Jiangsu — a club that, in its prime, lured Ramires from Chelsea, poached Alex Teixeira at the expense of Liverpool, hired Fabio Capello as manager, and almost reeled in Gareth Bale from Real Madrid — finds itself in dire straits.
Owners Suning, the Chinese conglomerate, recently cut ties, a move that has forced the club to cease operations. That doesn’t quite equate to an erasure of Jiangsu’s existence — new ownership could yet revive the Nanjing-based side — but such a fate isn’t unrealistic.
That cloud of uncertainty — and almost certain doom — could affect Wakaso more than it could any of the players on Jiangsu’s books. He is one of three imports in the squad, also the most valuable of the lot (priced at €3 million by transfermarkt.com), and that sets him up as a rather highly saleable asset if push comes to shove.
Should such a time arrive, and Wakaso want to stay in China or head back to Europe, he would hardly lack takers. But then there is the other option: coming home.
If Gyan’s demands could be met by a Ghanaian club — and, true, there aren’t many that could — the cost of acquiring a relatively lightweight star like Wakaso could be absorbed, too.
And if the early signals from Akonnor — that the cream of home-based talent could feature in his plans — mean anything at all, Wakaso’s possible return needn’t affect his status as a Ghana international.
The road back home might be less travelled, but Wakaso would find it covered with a velvety red carpet.
Former champions Ashanti Gold who were battered 5-2 by Legon Cities in Accra on January 22, are returning to the capital yet again, this time the Miners have a date with Inter Allies on match day 17 of the Ghana Premier League on Friday at the Accra Sports stadium.
The Abokaese lads suffered their worst defeat in the season, throwing away an early advantage to lose 5-2 to the Royals, their first loss in Accra in the ongoing season.
Prior to that defeat, the Miners had drawn with Hearts of Oak (2-2), and beaten Great Olympics (2-1). But their third visit was a nail-biting experience as they shut their eyes in anguish.
AshantiGold have managed only one win in their last eight premier League matches where they have lost four and drew three in the process.
They have scored six goals and conceded eight in their last three visits to the capital.
The recent slump in form has seen them drop out of the top four to 11th place with 21 points.
On team news, Dacosta Boadu has returned to full fitness. But Appiah Midfielder Appiah McCarthy remains side-lined with an injury.
Inter Allies have brought in former Liberty Professionals and Elmina Sharks coach Felix Aboagye to partner Dani Mujkanovich in their bid for survival as they sit at the root of the table with 11 points from 16 matches.
Allies ended their seven-game winless streak about a fortnight ago when they beat WAFA SC 1-0 in Accra purge them in the fight against relegation and a win against AshantiGold will do them a lot of good.
The side have made some purchase, bringing in, Richard Arthur, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Samuel Armah and Abdul Nassiru Hamza. They have also added to the fold Nigerian trio Emmanuel Tochukwu, Kingsley Kuku and Sunday Henry Kalu to augment the squad.
A win against AshantiGold SC will be a feather in their cap amidst the challenges.
AshantiGold have not won a game since the 4-0 win against Aduana Stars on match day 16.
Liverpool suffered a fifth successive competitive home defeat for the first time in their history as Chelsea made it 10 games unbeaten under new manager Thomas Tuchel with victory at Anfield.
Mason Mount’s superb individual strike three minutes before half-time gave the visitors a deserved win and moved them into the top four, while Liverpool are now in seventh place and in a serious dogfight for the Champions League places.
Liverpool suffered a fifth successive competitive home defeat for the first time in their history as Chelsea made it 10 games unbeaten under new manager Thomas Tuchel with victory at Anfield.
Mason Mount’s superb individual strike three minutes before half-time gave the visitors a deserved win and moved them into the top four, while Liverpool are now in seventh place and in a serious dogfight for the Champions League places.
Mount scored brilliantly when he cut inside to fire a low shot past Liverpool keeper Alisson, the reward for a first-half dominated by the Blues, who also had a Timo Werner effort ruled out for offside.
Liverpool, for whom a visibly angry Mohamed Salah was substituted just after the hour, barely threatened but were furious when penalty claims were rejected by the video assistant referee after Roberto Firmino’s cross clearly struck N’Golo Kante’s hand.
Alisson had to save well from the lively Werner but one goal was enough to give Chelsea and Tuchel another fine victory as they move four points ahead of the Reds.
Danish fold HB Køge has announced that Nigerien striker Victorien Adebayor will join Legon Cities on a short term deal.
Køge announced that Victorien Adebayor will spend the rest of the year with the Ghana Premier League outfit.
“In this way, we meet the wishes of Adebayor. For personal reasons, he has a strong need to be close to his family for the time to come. We have listened to that. We have come to the conclusion that if he does not thrive here because he does not have “himself with”, it is the right solution, “says HB Køge’s director Per Rud.
“Adebayor’s first time in Denmark has not been easy. There has been corona. The paperwork with visas and work permits has been a long time coming. We have not yet succeeded in bringing his girlfriend to Denmark.
“At the same time, he has been hit by injuries, which has meant that he has not been given the desired playing time. Now he gets a period in a club where he is safe. At the same time, he can get in shape and, in addition to football, focus on family life. ”
Adebayor joined HB Køge in December on a three-year contract from Inter Allies.
“We have now put together a plan together with Legon Cities FC. It must ensure the framework for Adebayor’s development. He is an exciting player and we still believe in the model with players from Africa and that we can integrate them.
He continued: “Effiong Nsungusi is on the verge of his breakthrough in HB Køge, and Frank Assinki, with whom we have a long contract, is currently playing for the Ghanaian U20 national team at the Africa Cup of Nation. They have shown that they can handle the transition from Ghana to Europe, ”he ended.
Adebayor was a huge figure in the Premier league before leaving for Køge, he netted 23 goals in 27 games for Inter Allies during his two year stint with the Club and was the league’s top scorer in the truncated League last season.
He becomes the club’s latest signing this window after Hans Kwoffie, Richmond Antwi, Shamsu Alhassan ‘Diago’ and Justice Anane.
Legon Cities currently sit 13th on the Ghana Premier League table with 19 points after 16 games. The Royals are hoping to secure a top 4 finish by the end of the season.
The Referees Committee of the Ghana Football Association has appointed Match Officials for Matchweek 17 of the Ghana Premier League.
Check out the Match Officials & other officials for this weekend’s matches:
DATE: Friday, March 5, 2021 MATCH: Inter allies vs Ashantigold VENUE: Accra Sports Stadium REFEREE: Bismark Appiah ASSISTANTS: Fusheini Mumuni & Stephen Balanguena 4TH REFEREE: Martins Akudzi MATCH COMMISSIONER: Nana Boamah Darko VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Frederick Gyan Mante GFA CAMERAMAN: Bernard Agbodza
DATE: Friday, March 5, 2021 MATCH: Elmina Sharks vs Asante Kotoko (LIVE ON STARTIMES) VENUE: Nduom Stadium, Elmina REFEREE: Benjamin Kwame Sefa ASSISTANTS: Thomas Ngmindieye & Kofi Kyei Andoh 4TH REFEREE: Eric Sefa Antwi MATCH COMMISSIONER: Michael N. Ayeh VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Jonathan Nelson Ackon GFA CAMERAMAN:
DATE: Saturday, March 6, 2021 MATCH: Karela vs Aduana Stars (LIVE ON STAR TIMES) VENUE: Aiyinase CAM park REFEREE: Wiseman Ghansah ASSISTANTS: Kofi Nyarko Bekae & Halilu Alhassan 4TH REFEREE: Jones Akubiem MATCH COMMISSIONER: Andrew Dery VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Stephen Apaka Quaicoe
DATE: Sunday, March 7, 2021 MATCH: Berekum Chelsea vs Medeama VENUE: Berekum REFEREE: Daniel Laryea ASSISTANTS: Paul Atimaka & David Addico 4TH REFEREE: Philip Atta Forson MATCH COMMISSIONER: Felix Adjetey Sowah VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Precious Semevoh GFA CAMERAMAN: Herbert Semakor
DATE: Saturday, March 6, 2021 MATCH: King Faisal vs Liberty Professionals VENUE: Techiman park REFEREE: Frederick Samena ASSISTANTS: Frederick Danful & Jasper Adenyo 4TH REFEREE: Bashiru Dauda MATCH COMMISSIONER: Charles Darkwah VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Obed Anane Frimpong GFA CAMERAMAN: Abdul Samed
DATE: Sunday, March 7, 2021 MATCH: Hearts of Oak vs WAFA (LIVE ON STAR TIMES ) VENUE: Accra Sports Stadium REFEREE: ALfaa Ba-Adey ASSISTANTS: Patrick Papala & Ali Timuah Baah 4TH REFEREE: Patrick Okyere MATCH COMMISSIONER: Augustine Asante VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Desmond Worlanyo
DATE: Sunday, March 7, 2021 MATCH: Bechem United vs Ebusua Dwarfs VENUE: Bechem park REFEREE: Julian Nunoo ASSISTANTS: Isaac Opoku Antwi & Alex Osam 4TH REFEREE: Joshua Samadji MATCH COMMISSIONER: Paul Ayamba VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Prince Agyemang GFA CAMERAMAN: Ishmael Odartey Mills
DATE: Sunday, March 7, 2021 MATCH: Eleven Wonders vs Legon Cities VENUE: Techiman park REFEREE: Clement Kwame Nkuah ASSISTANTS: Mohammed Tijani & Peter Dawsa 4TH REFEREE: Andrews Awurisa MATCH COMMISSIONER: Jacob AMegatsey VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Obed Anane Frimpong GFA CAMERAMAN: Abdul Samed
DATE: Sunday, March 7, 2021 MATCH: Dreams vs Great Olympics VENUE: Dawu REFEREE: Joseph Kenny Padi ASSISTANTS: Isaac Nyamekye & Alhassan Abdulai 4TH REFEREE: Emmanuel Otoo MATCH COMMISSIONER: Gidiglo Williams VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: Richard Achore GFA CAMERAMAN: Paul Egbenya
