GHANA PREMIER LEAGUE: Preview to WAFA vs Asante Kotoko

By Kofi Amoah.

This season’s Ghana Premier League will be its 55^th edition since its inception in 1958; 54^th and 5^th edition for Kotoko and WAFA (Feyernoord) respectively.

It bounces back after 156 days of no premier action in the country. Pundits, journalists, football analyst, soccer loving fans have gone thirty for far too long.

Luckily, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and West African Football Academy (WAFA) will be ushering us into a fresh 2015/2015 league season on Saturday, the 20^th of February 2016.

The Porcupine Warriors will travel to square it out with the former Feyernord side at the Sogakope Stadium where they lost by a goal to nil last season.

These two sides have met on six occasions since 2005/2006 league season. Both have two wins each and two ending in a draw. Six (6) goals have been produced with each netting three times.

Since 2004, WAFA has managed only one home win on Match Day 1. Lost one zero to Heart of Lions in 2004, and won on the same margin the following year against Kade Hotspurs. On the flip side, Kotoko has also managed to come out victorious once on Match Day 1 since 1999; drawn six (6) and lost three (3). Scored seven (7) and conceded eleven (11).

Being tough and resolute at home, WAFA has lost 7, drawn 15 and won 29 in their 51 matches played after losing to Lions in 2004. Their goals for is perked at 60 and allowed in 28.

On the other hand, the Porcupine Warriors first won an away match on 28^th March 1999, a 1-2 win against Liberty Pro. Since then, they have played a total of 232 games as visitors to other clubs. Won 93, drawn 72 and lost 67, scoring 246 and conceding 209.

Asante Kotoko last season was the team with most win in away matches  with 5 wins, 5 draws and 5 loses.

Missing in action for Kotoko will be Jackson Owusu who has been ruled out of the season over a broken leg. 18-year old Dauda Mohammed, Kwame Boateng, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi and Adzeko Mandela will all be absent for the Porcupines.

Both clubs have been very impressive in the pre-season preparatory matches for the up-coming league. Kotoko has been the much talked about team with pundits touting them as overwhelming favourite for the league after a flawless ride in matches during the pre-season.

But the likes of Majeed Ashimeru, Ibrahim Tanko, captain Martin Antwi will be putting up their tailored measured passes with sweet inter positional switches and defence splitting passes.

 Although the clash between current league winners Ashanti Gold and FA Super Cup winners Medeama, is undoubtedly the top liner for the week, WAFA and Asante Kotoko will be a hell of a cracker.