The new Ghana Premier League season began with huge expectation due to records of clubs that have participated in African football in the past two seasons.
Samartex slowly won last season’s league at the back of distracted defending champions Medeama’s African campaign. Samartex’s own African campaign was a revival for the champions themselves and the Ghana Premier League, for the first time the club tasted African football.
The bringing of one of African elite clubs Raja Athletic Club to the Ghanaian soil in a qualifying game of the CAF Champions League added to the heed established by Medeama and Dreams Football Club who both brought homeland Egyptian duo Ahly and Zamalek in previous season.
With the standout performance of the Ghana Premier League in Africa, African club elites Al Ahly, Zamalek, Raja Casablanca, and Wydad Athletic Club started facing Ghana football again, and though the Northern powers still dominated in all encounters but their presence on the soil sparkled Ghana football in the subsequent seasons.
When entering the current term (2024-2025 season), the country’s football officials had prepared some stadiums during these African campaigns though they are not up to standard, and Ghana Premier League clubs have strategically positioned themselves to fight for the title.
Kotoko were confident in such regard due to the refurbished Baba Yara Sports Stadium due to Madeama and Dreams’ African campaigns. Same was for Hearts of Oak due to Samartex and Nsoatreman’s Africa.
But for a fact, not all the clubs can win the title by the end of this season- climaxed with tensed competition of emerging clubs Bibiani Gold Stars, Nations Football Clubs, and Heart of Lions against traditional winners Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, Aduana Stars, and Medeama Sporting Club.
The most likeliest sides to win the trophy are Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Aduana Stars and Medeama, these are the recognised winners but looking at the league’s trend in the past years two clubs Dreams FC, Samartex have changed views.
Kotoko’s quality signings, their strongest competitive advantage, made them the clear favourites for this season’s title but there has been an integration and transitional problems. Prosper Ogum is still struggling with player choice, positioning of them and the right style of play leading to the Reds’ hard start to this campaign.
Kotoko saw themselves in an unbeaten position in the first seven games which confirmed their widely held champions belief but the last four games, consecutive losses for that matter along side the club’s overall performance, has changed this belief.
Their main rivals Hearts of Oak have improved within the interval to form plausible title belief of themselves, but there is much concern of sustainability to break their four-year Ghana Premier League title drought.
Hearts of Oak have fought to a fourth place surpassing Asante Kotoko on the table following recent results of both clubs. In Hearts’ rejuvenated campaign, they beat another title favourites Medeama, in an away game but the former CAF Champions League participants only have experience to come into the debate of who win this season’s Ghana Premier League.
Medeama sit 5th position with 18 points 4 more below leaders Nations FC after returning to winning ways with win a 2-0 win over second place side Gold Stars in week eleven. By far, Medeama have shown little path of fighting for the ultimate like Hearts of Oak who have won all of their last three games.
Aduana Stars and Berekum Cheleas cannot win the league leaving three traditional clubs Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak and Medeama battling newbies Gold Stars, Nations Football Club, Heart of Lions and Samartex for this season’s title.
The array of the Ghana Premier League shows clearly betwen the two divides with the first three positions occupied by emerging clubs, followed by perennial winners. This trend of the log could go forward to the end of the first round meaning Hearts of Oak, Medeama and Asante Kotoko will be ghosting these newbies in the race waiting for the backing of the second round to fall on them.
Traditionally, these perennial winners are standout performers in the second half and a couple of factors usually weight down new clubs only that this history is changing in the last two seasons. The leaders after the first round or early in the second round usually hold onto to glory.
Nations Football Club who currently lead with 22 points have a huge task in maintaining their position to finish the season as the champions. Gold Stars and Hearts of Lions may come in to win the title should Nations miss out, and which of the newbies that win the title will fairly communicate the ongoing improvement of the Ghana Premier League that have succeeded in Africa football in the last two seasons.
Traditional clubs Kotoko, Medeama and Hearts are fighting Gold Stars, Lions and Nations for the 2024-2025 title.
Gold Stars, Nations FC, Heart of Lions, Asante Kotoko, Medeama and Hearts of Oak, one will be crowned GPL champions at the end of the season.
