The ‘Biribes’ will be welcoming Asante Kotoko to the Golden City Park in Berekum for the opening fixture of the 2025–26 Ghana Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams will be seeking for a positive result as they begin their season's campaign this weekend, having failed to clinch the ultimate last term.
Match Preview
Coach Abdul Karim Zito will be making his first trip to Berekum to face Chelsea since he was named as Asante Kotoko coach, whilst the hosts will be battling for the three points with Premier League title-winning tactician Samuel Boadu, who has been at the helm of affairs since March 2024.
Asante Kotoko will be hoping to ride on their Ghana Super Cup triumph over Bibiani Goldstars in Saturday's fixture against Chelsea after a disastrous GHALCA Top 4 tournament.
The Porcupine Warriors failed to secure a point during the 2025 GHALCA Top 4 tournament, but they made a big statement in the Super Cup by defeating last season's Premier League winners, Bibiani Goldstars, at Dun's Park to appease their supporters.
Berekum Chelsea have strengthened their technical team ahead of the 2025–26 season with the club's legends Kofi Owusu and Obed Owusu, and their presence in the dugout is to help the club deliver its ambition in this campaign.
Chelsea are aiming to start their 2025–26 season with a sweet victory over Asante Kotoko in a similar fashion to the previous season, according to Samuel Boadu.
After a successful pre-season campaign in Kumasi and Sunyani, Berekum Chelsea engaged in several friendlies, including a victory over Aduana FC, a draw with Young Apostles and a defeat to Bechem United in a four-team invitational tournament held at the Sunyani Coronation Park last month.
In the last six meetings between the two teams, Asante Kotoko have recorded three wins, two defeats and a draw. The Porcupine Warriors picked up four points against Chelsea during the last season's campaign and also recorded a narrow win over the Berekum-based outfit in the FA Cup semis.
Team News
Berekum Chelsea will be expecting to unleash former Asante Kotoko defender Augustine Agyapong, who has joined them on a free transfer, in Saturday's showdown. Also, Anokye Morrison has returned to the club after a two-year stay at defunct club Nsoatreman FC.
Chelsea have also acquired Micheal Awuah Mensah, whose contract with Hearts of Oak was terminated after twelve months, and he'll be making his debut against Asante Kotoko.
Following the mass exodus of players at Berekum Chelsea, including Gregory Obeng Sekyere, Zackaria Fuseini, Hubert Gyau, Stephen Amankona, Ernest Mwankurinah, Mezack Afriyie and others, they would be expected to parable a team full of new faces.
With Asante Kotoko, they are travelling to Berekum Chelsea without Lord Amoah, Peter Amidu Acquah, Elvis Kyei Baffour, Andrews Ntim Manu and Emmanuel Kotei due to injuries.
Also, newly signed right-back Shayibu Abubakari has also been ruled out of the game after sustaining a knock during the Ghana Super Cup ‘Champion of Champions’ against Goldstars.
Duo Zackaria Fuseini and Hubert Gyau will be making a return to Berekum to face their former club in the crucial Premier League opening game.
Guinean striker Morifing Donzo is expected to be unleashed to make his first-ever Premier League appearance for Kotoko by partnering either Albert Amoah or Kwame Opoku upfront against Berekum Chelsea.
Possible line ups
Berekum Chelsea XI: Adu, Abaidoo, Kuffour, Mensah, Seidu, Sorotu Badori, Klu Adjei, Bediako, Attuquaye, Sarpong, M. Owusu
Asante Kotoko XI: Camara, Samba, H. Ansu, Hamzata, P. Amoh, P. Aseidu, Adabo, E. Antwi, K. Seth, Donzo, A. Amoah
Kickoff Time
The game is scheduled to kick-off at 15:00 GMT (3:00 PM)
TV Channels
The match will be live on free-to-air TV stations namely TV3 and Onua TV.
DSTV, GOTV, StarTimes users can also watch on the TV3 channel.
The game will also be streamed live on YouTube and Adesa+.
PREDICTION
The meeting between the two teams always produces fewer goals, and the Golden City Park has been a difficult venue for Asante Kotoko since Chelsea gained top-flight league promotion in 2009.
We say: Berekum Chelsea 1-1 Asante Kotoko
