Champions League-chasing Aduana Stars welcome fellow African hopefuls Nations FC to Agyemang Badu Park for a Ghana Premier League Power derby on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams were able to be separated the last time that they locked horns almost six months ago when Nations FC defeated Aduana 2-1 at Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex courtesy goals from Barimah Baah and Nafiu Sulemana, with Justus Torsutsey scoring Aduana’s only goal in that match.
Few Nations FC supporters have from onset conceived the possibility of their club sitting in the top four with just four Premier League games remaining, and while Kasim Mingl’s side have every right to dream of securing Champions League qualification for the first time since its rebrand from Bekwai Youth Football Academy (BYFA), a fluency in form prior to the international break has sounded the alarm bells.
The Abrankese based club suffered a heavy 3-0 away loss to cellar dwellers Heart of Lions in round 27 just a week after rescuing a point in a 2-2 draw at home against Bofoakwa Tano, with Prince Acquah netting a 86th-minute equaliser to snatch a point for Nations.
Aduana currently sit third with 46 points in the table and only two points ahead of second-placed Nations, who have bagged 48 points, but Yaw Acheampong’s men could swap places with the Ashanti Region club if they are able to beat them in the scotching Saturday afternoon football.
Earlier this season, Agyeman Badu Park had developed into a fortress, but since the turn of the year, the Fire Boys have lost two of their thirteen home league games. They have also conceded 6 goals during this run which is five more than they managed in their previous 9 home fixtures.
With challenging encounters against Heart of Lions and leaders Samartex on the horizon on Sunday, Aduana will be keen to hang on to their winning ways this weekend, but success is not a given against an unflinching Nations FC as they have one just one, posted two draws and succumbed to three losses of their last six Premier League games.
KICKOFF: 15:00 GMT (3:00pm)
By: Pascal Amoah
