All roads lead to the Ohene Gyan Stadium on Sunday, May 4, 2025, for the second Super-Clash of the 2024/25 season as Hearts of Oak cross swords with eternal rivals Asante Kotoko in what will be a herculean Ghana Premier League match-week 30 showdown
Both teams displayed a top level of football in the first leg last December - in a game that unleashed everything but it was Albert Amoah's late goal thanks to a huge clanger from Kelvin Osei Asibey that made the difference giving the Reds an important 1-0 win and the bragging rights after full-time
Both teams haven't really been convincing recently having had a shaky run mix of good and bad results but definitely the motivation approaching a fixture like this is always different and will all head in with nothing but a winning mindset as they are still not far away from winning the championship
MATCH PREVIEW
Hearts of Oak were not in action in the last round of matches but were awarded three points plus three goals as they had to face Nsoatreman FC, who have withdrawn from the league for obvious reasons
However, the 'Phobians' are winless in their last three open play games with their last win coming against Medeama SC early last month courtesy a 23rd minute goal by Emmanuel Amankwah
On the opposition side, Asante Kotoko just few weeks ago were on top of the league with high chances of clinching ultimate but an appalling four-game winless run recently brought a huge dent to their 25th league success ambition leading to the jettisoning of coach Prosper Narteh Ogum
Former Dreams FC boss Abdul Karim Zito has now stepped in as replacement and got off to a brighter start last week after a narrow 1-0 victory in a very difficult game against Aduana Stars
The game was a very difficult one for the Porcupine Warriors but Kwame Opoku's belter in the 27th minute made the difference.
The 'Kum Apem' lads are currently occupying the fourth position with 50 points, just three off the top-spot and five above Hearts of Oak - who are on seventh position in the table
TEAM NEWS
Both teams have no any major injury or suspension concerns from their last round of matches and will have a strong squad to field against each other
Coach Aboubakar Ouattara keeps on rotating his squad especially the attacking line and is still unclear as to the exact options he will go for coming into this crunchy game.
However, coach Karim Zito is most likely to maintain Guinean goalkeeper Mohammed Camara in goal following his man of the performance in their last game including hugely denying Aduana Stars skipper Sam Adams from 15-yards
Despite having lots of options in attack, it is most likely he will maintain his attacking trio from their last game; Albert Amoah, Kwame Opoku and Nigerian international Fernando Bassey.
LINEUPS
Hearts of Oak: Benjamin Asare (GK), Emmanuel Amankwah, Samuel Amofa, Konadu Yiadom, Kelvin Osei Asibey, Stephen Appiah Asare, Raphael Amponsah, Hussein Mohammed, Seth Osei, Kwame Boateng, Hamza Issah
Kotoko: Mohammed Camara (GK), Michael Sefah, Patrick Asiedu, Henry Ansu, Samba O'Neil, Andrews Ntim Manu, Michael Kyei Dwamena, Baba Yahaya, Albert Amoah, Kwame Opoku, Fernando Bassey
CHANNELS: AFA Sports, Metro TV, Original TV, Net2 TV
KICKOFF: 15:00GMT (3:00pm)
PREDICTION
We say Hearts of Oak 1-1 Asante Kotoko
By: Iddriss Abdul Rahim
