- Both Liberty Professionals and Asante Kotoko are looking forward to the challenge and they have it all to play
League leaders Asante Kotoko will travel to Sogakope to face Liberty Professionals at the Red Bull arena on match day 25 of the Ghana Premier League. The Porcupine Warriors are on a three match winning run – having beaten Legon Cities, Dreams FC and Ebusua Dwarfs in their last three outings, scoring 6 goals and conceding 2 in the process.
Team captain Emmanuel Gyamfi was the hero in midweek – the winger netted twice as they came from behind to beat Ebusua Dwarfs 2-1 at the Obuasi Len Clay stadium.
Coach Mariano Barreto seems to have found the right balance – with Habib Mohammed and Salifu Mudasiru playing well in midfield. The backline has also improved under the Portuguese trainer – conceded four goals in their last four matches – an average of one goal per match.
Razak Abalora, Moro Ibrahim, Christopher Nettey, Mubarik Yussif and Isamail Ganiyu have been impressive at the back for the Warriors this term. They have leaked only 12 goals in the competition thus far. One thing that they haven’t lacked is goals – it excites coach Baretto.
Augustine Okrah (1), Michael Vinicius (1), Francis Andy Kumi (1) and Emmanuel Gyamfi (3) have been on target in their last four matches and despite the loss to Medeama SC on match day 21, the statistics put them in a great position heading into this fixture.
Kotoko have lost two on the road, (Elmina Sharks and Medeama SC) and drawn one against (Great Olympics) since Friday, March 5 – a confidence booster ahead of the game.
Liberty Professionals have not had an imposing performance in the League. They have won 6, drawn 7 and lost 11 and sit in 16th place in the League log – 19 points behind Asante Kotoko who sit at the base of the table with 44 points after 24 matches.
The scientific soccer lads started the second half of the season on a promising note but have picked only one point in their last three matches.
The Dansoman lads lost to Great Olympics (2-0) and Legon Cities (2-1) before drawing 0-0 with Medeama SC at home. Goalkeeper Kofi Baah, hit man Kwame Karikari, winger Abraham Wayo, left back Evans Owusu, attacker Brite Andoh have to dig deep against Asante Kotoko on Sunday.
The match is scheduled for the Red Bull arena at Sogakope will be shown live on StarTimes Adepa Channel 247.
Still on Sogakope, giant killers WAFA will host Legon Cities on Saturday. The visitors need the points badly to move out of the relegation zone.
On Sunday, AshantiGold SC who fell heavily to Berekum Chelsea in midweek will play against Great Olympics at the Len clay stadium.
Fresh from the 3-2 win against Great Olympics, two-time champions Aduana Football Club will lock horns with Medeama SC at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa, while bottom club Inter Allies clash with Berekum Chelsea at the thatre of Dreams, Dawu.
King Faisal have a date with Bechem United at the Techiman with both teams coming from defeats. Faisal fell heavily to Dreams FC while Behem United lost at home to Accra Hearts of Oak.
Finally on Sunday, second placed Accra Hearts of Oak will face Elmina Sharks at the Accra sports stadium. The Phobians moved to the second spot following the hard fought win against Bechem United – their first win in 7 years. Samuel Boadu’s side have lost one, drawn one and won two in their last four outings – heading into this game, they are buoyed by the rare win in Bechem.
The match is scheduled for 6pm on Sunday- it will be shown live on StarTimes Adepa channel 247.
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