The stage is set for another epic encounter between Archrivals and the two most successful clubs in the history of Ghana football, Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC and Accra Hearts of Oak SC, at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi this afternoon.
The Ghana Premier League Match Day 24 game between the league leaders and the defending champions is now scheduled to kick off at 3pm on Sunday, April 10, 2022 instead of the 18:00 GMT scheduled earlier. The Kick off time for the match was changed due to advise from the Ghana Police Service. The Match Coordination meeting was held earlier today at 10 am at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Had the time for the clash not changed, it would have been the first time the two sides will be playing a GPL match under floodlights since a-May 9, 2001 match which ended in chaos, recording the infamous May 9 football disaster that claimed 126 lives at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), however, broke that ‘ice’ in March, 2022 with the organization of the President Cup match in Accra which was played under floodlights. The game ended in favor of the Phobians who triumphed by 2 goals to 1.
Hearts of Oak undefeated in Kumasi in the past 9 years
This season, the first leg encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium ended in a goalless draw. Even though Kumasi Asante Kotoko currently sits top of the league table with 49 points, 13 points clear of Accra Hearts of Oak which is 4th on the league log with 36 points after 23 GPL matches, the Phobians have the upper hand in recent encounters in Kumasi.
The last win in Kumasi was a 1-0 victory in fovour of Hearts of Oak in 2018. In 2017, the game ended 1-1, same scoreline as in 2016. In 2015, Hearts beat Kotoko 1-0 at the Kumasi sports stadium and the game in 2014 at the same venue ended in a goalless draw.
Despite the good performance of the Phobians at the Kumasi Sports Stadium, their away record has been poor this season. Four out of Hearts of Oak’s five loses this season were suffered away from home. Out of a total of 11 matches played by the Phobians this season, they have only managed two victories and five draws, 4 defeats. Ironically, since 2009, Hearts of Oak has played 11 matches against Kumasi Asante Kotoko in Kumasi and have only lost once, in 2012.
On Saturday, April 9, 2022, Ashantigold SC thrashed relegation-threatening side, WAFA FC, 6-0 at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium. Also on Saturday, Accra Lions beat Karela United 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Later this afternoon, Accra Great Olympics FC will face Aduana Stars FC at the Accra Sports Stadium with kick off scheduled at 3pm. In other games, Dreams FC will host Eleven Wonders at the Dawu Theatre of Dreams at 3pm, whilst Bechem United will stay at home against struggling Bibiani Goldstars.
Also, Berekum Chelsea will face Legon Cities, Medeama will also take on newly promoted RTU at the Akoon Park whilst Elmina Sharks takes on Kumasi-based King Faisal at Elmina on Sunday at 3pm.
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