Finally, Bibiani Gold Stars are title contenders and must go all the way to secure it.
Frimpong Manso decided to keep everything cool since the commencement of the season. He earlier in the season rebuffed the belief that Gold Stars are title contenders. He had inwardly believed it but never publicly admitted it. The truth is, his side has every chance to win their first ever major title at the top flight and ink their name in Ghanaian football folklore, per how things are panning out.
“The Ghana Premier League title race is not between Kotoko and Gold Stars,” Manso said. “As we speak, Nations FC is a title contender. We want to win the league title, and that is the objective now, but it depends on how we approach the remaining matches,” the former Black Stars defender finally admitted that Bibiani Gold Stars are title contenders.
It took Frimpong Manso eight good months before admitting that his side wants the league. Pundits saw how good Gold Stars are earlier in the season and started forcing the coach to admit it, but he refused. The decision not to publicly consider his side as genuine title contenders was not to put them under pressure.
The Bibiani-based club have been punching above their weight in their shoulder-to-shoulder challenge of the favourites, Asante Kotoko. Nations FC has announced their intentions to compete with the two after Heart of Lions’ title aspirations were discovered to be fake recently. Frimpong Manso’s men are now in a three-horse race for the title and have a huge advantage heading into week 28.
Gold Stars will host Medeama at the Dun’s Park in the Western Region Derby on Sunday afternoon. Second-placed Nations FC, at the same time, will be hosting Asante Kotoko in the Ashanti Derby. A win in Bibiani will help Gold Stars at least extend their lead over one of Kotoko and Nations FC.
Week 28 is very pivotal for Frimpong Manson because it will be left with just six games for the rest of the campaign after Sunday’s action. Bibani Gold Stars are beginning to be the favourites for the title because they will welcome Asante Kotoko to Bibiani. They believe the Porcupine Warriors are the main threat and week 32 could be the decider, although the title race is wide open.
Bibiani Gold Stas’ last 6 games
H v Medeama ( Week 28)
A v Vision (Week 29)
H v Karela (week 30)
H v Asante Kotoko (week 31)
A v Berekum Chelsea (week 32)
H v Accra Lions (week 34)
** A 3-0 win will be awarded against Nsoatreman.
The Miners have a huge advantage if you consider how good they are at home. After Medeama’s game on Sunday at the Dun’s Park, the club will still have three home games to play. Three points are also waiting for them on their trip to Nsoatre to face Nsoatreman, who has withdrawn from the league.
Asante Kotoko and Nations FC each must win the rest of their matches to stand a real chance of winning the league because the odds are now against them. Asante Koto has a slim chance of winning the league among the three teams. They have hit poor form at the wrong time. The five points lost in their last two games against Bechem United and Accra Lions could be the end of the road for them.
Kotoko’s last 7 games
A v Nations FC
H v Aduana Stars
A v Hearts of Oak
H v Dreams
A v Bibiani Gold Stars
H v Medeama
A v Vision FC
Nations FC have mounted a wonderful charge after winning their last three games against Hearts of Oka, Karela United and Dreams FC, which has helped them leapfrog Asante Kotoko to 2nd. They have also benefited from Nsoatreman’s decision to withdraw from the league, as three points have been awarded to them.
Kasim Ocansey Mingle’s side is yet to be beaten by Asante Kotoko since they gained promotion to the top flight in 2023. In the three games played, the club has won two and drawn one and has every chance to end Kotoko’s dream on Sunday.
Nation’s FC’s last 7 games
H v Kotoko (week 28)
A v Berekum Chelsea (week 29)
H v Accra Lions (week 30)
A v Legon Cities (week 31)
H v Samartex (week 32)
A v Holy Stars (week 33)
H v Heart of Lions (week 34)
Comparatively, Asante Kotoko has the difficult fixtures among the three competing teams for the title. The leaders, Gold Stars, have the easiest, even though every opponent could be dangerous if they decide to play. The 2-0 win for Bibiani Gold Stars at Bechem United helped them sit on top of the table for the 7th different time in the season and it should serve as a warning to their rivals.
