Ghana Premier League action returns this Midweek when title-chasing Asante Kotoko host Top 4 hopefuls, Karela United.

The Match Week 30 fixture between the 2nd and 3rd place teams takes place at the Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi on Wednesday

Asante Kotoko enter the game with the objective of killing two birds with one stone. The Porcupine Warriors are targeting doing the double over Karela United while also keeping their title dreams alive.

In fact, Kotoko will climb top of the table if they beat Karela United on Wednesday as table toppers, Hearts of Oak do not play until Thursday. They currently lie second on the table on 53 points (same as first place Hearts of Oak).

The corresponding fixture at Nzema Ayinase saw Kotoko break Karela United’s unbeaten home record. Goals from Ibrahim Imoro and Kwame Opoku sealed a well deserved win for Kotoko as they silenced fans at the CAM Park.

The Porcupine Warriors will aim to repeat such performance or better and earn a similar result on Wednesday.

Prior to the game, the home side won their FA Cup game by 3-1 against lower tier side Thunderbolt FC during the weekend. Coach Mariano Barreto’s side are unbeaten in their last 5 games in all competitions (Win 4, Draw 1).

At home, Kotoko have lost just once in the Premier League in their last 5 games, winning 3 and drawing one. However they did this while keeping just one clean sheet. Statistically this signals a defensive struggle and Coach Barreto will hope to get this fixed before Karela comes to town.

Karela United on the other hand have recorded just one defeat in their last 5 games (W2, D2). Their form on the road makes for grim reading however. Their last away win came in February 2021 when they beat Ebusua Dwarfs 2-1.

Since then, they have gone on a 7 match winless streak with a record of 4 defeats and 3 draws. Overall they have picked just 3 points out of an available 21 during this period. Overall, Karela have accumulated 46 points with only 10 of them coming on the road.

Kotoko will be licking their lips while looking at their opponents away form.

The game certainly favors the home side and they should have little trouble beating the travelers.

TEAM NEWS

Asante Kotoko head coach Mariano Barreto has announced an 18-man squad list for the clash.

Barreto has dropped some of his notable players such as Razak Abalora, Christopher Nettey, Mudasiru Salifu and Solomon Sarfo Taylor for the game.

Asante Kotoko 18 man squad for the Karela Clash.

Goalkeepers

Felix Annan
Kwame Baah

Defenders

Imoro Ibrahim
Habib Mohammed
Appau Andrews
Wahab Adams
Abdul Ganiyu Ismael
Patrick Asmah
Samuel Frimpong
Yussif Mubarik

Midfielders

Fabio Gama Dos Santos
Emmanuel Gyamfi
Godfred Asiamah
Augustine Okrah
Emmanuel Sarkodie
Kwame Adom Frimpong

Forwards

Evans Adomako
Andy Kumi