A battle of the tactical geniuses takes place at Aliu Mahama Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as Karela United and Nations FC face each other, with Nations FC hoping to build and prolong their last weekend winning feeling in the Premier League.
The Pride and Passion return to domestic duty after last Sunday’s straightforward 0-0 draw at Bechem United, while Kassim Mingle’s team wacked Vision FC 3-0 last weekend.
Match Preview
Karela did not make an ideal start to the 2024/25 season, losing three games into the new campaign. However, the Passioners have barely put a foot wrong since then, managing three draws, and two wins.
Very few would have given the Passioners any chance against Bechem United. However, Jimmy Cobblah’s men produced a dogged performance that nearly broke Bechem’s back, with the result taking them to 12th with 9 points in the Premier League standings. On the other hand, Mingle will hope his team can now embark on a good run to pull away from the 5th position and enter into the top four fray as they have racked 13 points.
The corresponding fixture of the second round of last season saw Karela narrowly beating Nations FC 1-0, with Giyasu Ibrahim finding the back of the net with the only goal of the match.
Team News
Jimmy Cobblah has a new roster issue hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture on Sunday. The Karela trainer will be ready to field all his first-team key players vs Nations FC.
There won’t be any absentee as on the part of Kassim Mingle’s Nations FC as he has a fully-fit primed squad, with no player on the sidelines ahead of the crunch encounter on Sunday, November 3.
Karela possible starting lineup:
Ganiu (GK) (C); Abdulai, Abubakar, Asigre, Faruk, Gariba, Ibrahim, Latif, Muhammed, Nurudeen, Yaya
Nations possible starting lineup:
Mensah (GK), Abrokwa, Alhassan, Badu, Berimah; Berko, Charwetey, Danso, Djangone, Kuffour, Simpson (C)
We say: Karela 2-1 Nations FC
Karela are not looking so bad in terms of stats - so Cobblah’s forward-thinking troops can trouble a fatigued Nations backline.
The Abrankese based side are the strongest defensively on the road, though, but Cobblah’s men still have our vote to march to their fourth successive win in the top flight.
By: Pascal Amoah
