Medeama favourites as league title goes to the wire
Medeama SC’s maiden league title ambition will be stretched to the final day of the betPawa Premier League as they require at least a point in their last game against Tamale Cities to be crowned champions.
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The Tarkwa-based side took a healthy four-point lead into yesterday’s clash with FC Samartex, needing a win at Samreboi to seal the league title but the home side fought to a scoreless draw to secure a vital point to secure their place in the league and ensure that Medeama’s champagne remain on ice for another week.
The outcome at the Nsenkyire Sports Complex also provided a window of opportunity for second-placed Bechem United to narrow the point gap on the leaders to three points after beating Berekum Chelsea 2-0 at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.
While Medeama will secure the title if they avoid a loss against relegation-threatened Tamale City at the Akoon Park on Sunday, Bechem United must win a tough regional derby against Aduana Stars FC at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park and hope for a calamitous ending to the encounter at the Akoon Park for a dramatic finish to the championship race.
This season Akoon Park in Tarkwa has been declared a no-go area for most visiting teams (Medeama have won all their last nine home matches) and the situation does not look promising for Tamale City as Medeama have high ambitions to wrap up the season in style before their home fans, knowing that a slip up could cost them their finest moment in Ghana football.
Until Medeama SC dislodged Aduana at the summit of the league log, the two-time league champions were considered the favourites until they slipped up and suffered a poor run of results (they are winless in the last five games and suffered three straight losses) to fall out of contention.
Yesterday, Aduana SC lost 2-1 to Nsoatreman FC (their third straight loss) but can finish in second place if they beat Bechem at Dormaa-Ahenkro on Sunday in what could be an uncompromising affair.
Unlike Bechem who have a tough away encounter, Medeama has a relatively easier assignment although their opponents who would also be fighting to escape relegation.
Tamale City are just above the relegation zone with 42 points after they were crushed 4-1 by relegated Kotoku Royals, while Great Olympics’s survival also depends on their final game against Nsoatreman at the Sogakope Park. Olympics lost 1-2 to Dreams FC last Saturday to remain in 16th position and on the same points as Tamale City.
King Faisal were surprise winners at the weekend after defeating Legon Cities 3-1 but they have a slim chance of escaping demotion, while Karela United eased their relegation worries with a 3-2 victory over Bibiani Goldstars at Aiyinase.
Real Tamale United’s surprise 2-1 win over Hearts of Oak in Accra may just have secured their place in the elite division ahead of their final fixture against King Faisal at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale.
Asante Kotoko, fourth on the log, will aim to finish the season on a positive note as they play host to sixth-placed Dreams FC at the Baba Yara Stadium.