With Kumasi Asante Kotoko crowned champions, all eyes will be on seven teams as they engage in a fight of survival to stay in the First Capital Plus Premier League in the season’s last week fixtures.
With Ebusua Dwarfs and Amidaus Professionals condemned to division one football next week, nerves will be frayed in this afternoon’s relegation dogfight to determine which side picks the third relegation spot.
Heartache lies in store for one unlucky team, with Bechem United, New Edubiase United, Medeama SC, Liberty Professionals and Berekum Chelsea (all tied on 39 points), King Faisal and Aduana Stars (both on 37 points) in a battle to avoid the drop to the dreaded football wilderness -- Division One League.
Amidaus’ exit was confirmed by a 1-0 loss to Chelsea at the weekend, while Dwarfs joined them after an uninspiring 0-0 draw with Sekondi Hasaacas.
With Kotoko basking in the glory of their back-to-back league titles, only two points separate Aduana Stars in 14th place and Bechem, who are in eighth place on the 16-team league log. The situation is also compounded by the head-to-head system in force, which means clubs determined to survive must win on the final day and hope for the best.
The head-to-head rule dictates that, when two sides finish level on points, the wins in the two games between the teams will be considered followed by the goal difference the two games, goals for the two games and away goals in those games. If they are level in those areas, a one off game will be played at a neutral venue.
In the thick of the relegation battles, Faisal will clash with Chelsea at the Baba Yara Stadium, Aduana will expect the already crowned champions, Kotoko to do them a favour at the Agyemang-Badu Park at Dormaa-Ahenkro, Carlos Roberto Paulette’s Medeama host Hasaacas at the Tarkwa T&A Park, Bechem will travel to Tema expecting a favour from relegated Amidaus, and Kennedy Ashia-led Liberty clash with All Stars at the Wa Park.
Elsewhere, in the fight to qualify for African Champions League, Hearts of Oak must win against New Edubiase at the Accra Stadium and hope that second-placed Kpando Heart of Lions slip at the Len Clay Stadium where they face fourth-placed Ashgold.
At the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast, Dwarfs will bid farewell to the top flight as they host Inter Allies.
