2020–21 Ghana Premier League
65th season of top professional association football league in Ghana
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The 2020–21 Ghana Premier League is the 65th season of top professional association football league in Ghana. The season started on 14 November 2020.[1] 18 teams were competing in the league with each club playing each other twice, home and away, with the three clubs at the bottom of the league relegated to the Division One League.[2][3][4] Hearts of Oak became champion for the first time in twelve years.
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 November 2020 — 18 July 2021 |
| Country |  (18 teams) |
| Champions | Accra Hearts of Oak |
| Relegated | Ebusua Dwarfs Liberty Professionals Inter Allies |
| Champions League | Hearts of Oak |
| Matches | 306 |
| Goals | 694 (2.27 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | (18 goals) Diawisie Taylor |
| Biggest home win | Ashanti Gold 7–0 Inter Allies (18 July 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Liberty 1–5 Ashanti Gold (24 June 2021) |
| Highest scoring | WAFA 5–4 Medeama (3 January 2021) |
| Longest winning run | (5 games) Hearts of Oak |
| Longest unbeaten run | (11 games) Hearts of Oak |
| Longest winless run | (7 games) International Allies |
| Longest losing run | (7 games) International Allies |
← 2019–20 2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 18 June 2021.Live matches on StarTimes | |
Season overview
With 18 clubs participating in the league, this marked the second time since 1980 that more than 16 clubs competed in the top division of Ghanaian football.[1] The GFA announced that the league was suspended on 15 March 2020, in the middle of match-week 15, because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6] On 31 May, the league was further suspended until at least 31 June. On 30 June, the FA had a meeting and cancelled the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A meeting was held on 27 August 2020 to determine the start and logistics of the 2020–21 season.[7]
The Ghana Football Association (GFA), on Friday, 5 November 2020 launched the 65th Ghana Premier League season and other products of the Association, ie, Division One League, Women's Premier League and the MTN FA Cup. The launch took place in the studio of broadcast partner StarTimes, and broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa Channel 247 and Max TV.[8]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic on 22 October 2020, The Ghana Football Association (GFA) began testing of players, coaching staff, and officials of the 18 Premier League clubs.[9][10]
The Ghana Football Association chairman announced the prize money for winning the league: "The winner of the 2020/21 Premier League will earn GHC 250,000 in prize money. The prize money is an increase from the GHc 180,000 received by the last winner of the Ghana Premier League Aduana Stars in the 2016/17 season."
Prize money
- The club that placed first in the league season would earn a trophy along with a cash prize of GHC 250,000, 40 gold medals and Ghc 10,000 worth of groceries from Melcom Shopping Center.
- The club that placed second in the league season would receive GHC 150,000 and 40 silver medals and groceries from Melcom Shopping Center.
- The club that placed third in the league season would earn an amount of GHC 80,000 and 40 bronze medals.[11]
Challenges
COVID-19
The opening game between Hearts of Oak and Aduana Stars was postponed after a number of players tested positive for COVID-19. 16 teams went for COVID-19 testing.[12]
The game between Liberty Professionals and Bechem United was also postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]
Teams
The 2020-2021 Ghana Premier League season has seen an increase in the number of clubs from 16 to 18 clubs.[14] The Accra Sports Stadium would be home to five Premier League Clubs, they are Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Legon Cities, Great Olympics and Inter Allies.[15]
Stadiums and locations
Note: Table is in alphabetical order.[16]
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aduana Stars | Dormaa Ahenkro | Agyeman Badu Stadium | 7,000 |
| Asante Kotoko | Accra | Accra Sports Stadium | 40,000 |
| Ashanti Gold | Obuasi | Len Clay Stadium | 20,000 |
| Bechem United | Bechem | Nana Gyeabour's Park | 5,000 |
| Berekum Chelsea | Berekum | Golden City Sports Stadium | 5,000 |
| Dreams | Dawu | Theatre of Dreams Sports Stadium | 5,000 |
| Ebusua Dwarfs | Cape Coast | Cape Coast Sports Stadium | 15,000 |
| Eleven Wonders | Techiman | Ohene Ameyaw Stadium | 2,000 |
| Elmina Sharks | Elmina | Nduom Sports Stadium | 5,000 |
| Great Olympics | Accra | Accra Sports Stadium | 40,000 |
| Hearts of Oak | Accra | Accra Sports Stadium | 40,000 |
| Inter Allies | Accra | Theatre of Dreams Sports Stadium | 40,000 |
| Karela United | Aiyinase | CAM Stadium | 5000 |
| King Faisal | Techiman | Ohene Ameyaw Park | 10,000 |
| Legon Cities | Accra | Accra Sports Stadium | 40,000 |
| Liberty Professionals | Dansoman | Carl Reindorf Park | 2000 |
| Medeama | Tarkwa | TNA Park | 12,000 |
| WAFA | Sogakope | Red Bull Arena | 1,000 |
Club managers and captains
The table lists club managers.[17][18][19]
| Team | Manager | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| Aduana Stars | Asare Bediako |
Joseph Addo |
| Asante Kotoko |  Mariano Barreto |
Felix Annan |
| Ashanti Gold |  Romain Folz |
Amos Addai |
| Bechem United | Mingle Ocansey Kasim |
Moro Salifu |
| Berekum Chelsea | Seth Hoffman |
Stephen Amankona |
| Dreams |  Vladislav Virić |
Michael Agbekpornu |
| Ebusua Dwarfs | James Kuuku Dadzie |
Dennis Korsah |
| Eleven Wonders | Ignatius Osei-Fosu |
Simms Kwayie |
| Elmina Sharks | Joachim Yaw Acheampong |
Ishmael Hammond |
| Great Olympics | Annor Walker |
Gladson Awako |
| Hearts of Oak | Samuel Boadu |
Abdul Fatawu Mohammed |
| Inter Allies |  Henrik Peters Lehm |
Hashmin Musah |
| Karela United | Evans Adotey |
Godfred Agyemang Yeboah |
| King Faisal | Slaviša Božičić |
Michael Akuffo |
| Legon Cities | Bashir Hayford |
Fatau Dauda |
| Liberty Professionals | Andy Sinason (co-interim) Sellas Tetteh |
Shaibu Ganiu George William Ansong |
| Medeama | Yaw Preko |
Joseph Tetteh Zutah |
| WAFA | Prosper Nartey Ogum |
Ibrahim Abukari |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legon Cities | Goran Barjaktarević | Sacked | 21 November 2020 | Bashir Hayford | 25 November 2020 | 18th[20][21] |
| Asante Kotoko | Maxwell Konadu | Sacked | 18 December 2020 | Johnson Smith (interim manager) | 18 December 2020 | 6th[22][23] |
| Johnson Smith (interim manager) | End of interim basis | 26 March 2021 | Mariano Barreto | 26 March 2021 | 6th[24] | |
| Hearts of Oak | Edward Odum | Re-assigned to the youth team | December 2019 | Kosta Papic | 2 December 2020 | 11th[25][26] |
| Kosta Papic | Resigned | 15 February 2021 | Samuel Boadu | 2 March 2021 | 11th[27][28] | |
| Dreams FC | Winfred Dormon | Re-assigned as assistant coach | 8 January 2021 | Vladislav Virić | 8 January 2021 | 16th[29][30] |
| Berekum Chelsea | Michael Hesse Odamtten | Sacked | 9 January 2021 | Seth Hoffman | 13 January 2021 | 15th[31][32] |
| Ashanti Gold | Milovan Cirkovic | Mutual consent | 23 February 2021 | Romain Folz | 31 March 2021 | 7th[33][34] |
| Medeama SC | Samuel Boadu | Resigned | 25 February 2021 | Yaw Preko | 3 March 2021 | 3rd[35][36] |
| Aduana Stars | Samuel Paa Kwesi Fabin | End of contract | 27 February 2021 | Asare Bediako | 1 March 2021 | 8th[37][38] |
| Bechem United | Ernest Danso | Mutual consent | 25 March 2021 | Mingle Ocansey Kasim | 25 March 2021 | 8th[39] |
| Liberty Professionals | David Ocloo | Sacked | 21 April 2021 | Andy Sinason | 21 April 2021 | 17th |
| Ebusua Dwarfs | Ernest Thompson-Quartey | Resigned | 13 June 2021 | James Kuuku Dadzie | 15 June 2021 | 12th[40] |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hearts of Oak (C, Q) | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 45 | 23 | +22 | 61 | 2021–22 CAF Champions League |
| 2 | Asante Kotoko | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 37 | 22 | +15 | 57 | |
| 3 | WAFA | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 46 | 38 | +8 | 56 | |
| 4 | Aduana Stars | 34 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 55 | |
| 5 | Medeama | 34 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 38 | 34 | +4 | 54 | |
| 6 | Great Olympics | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 33 | +4 | 52 | |
| 7 | Dreams | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 45 | 35 | +10 | 49 | |
| 8 | Karela United | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 46 | |
| 9 | Ashanti Gold | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 45 | |
| 10 | Berekum Chelsea | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 38 | 46 | −8 | 43 | |
| 11 | Bechem United | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 38 | 47 | −9 | 42 | |
| 12 | Eleven Wonders | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 33 | 38 | −5 | 42 | |
| 13 | Legon Cities | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 34 | 35 | −1 | 42 | |
| 14 | King Faisal | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 32 | 45 | −13 | 41 | |
| 15 | Elmina Sharks | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 34 | 45 | −11 | 41 | |
| 16 | Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs (R) | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 40 | 44 | −4 | 41[a] | Relegation to Division One League |
| 17 | Liberty Professionals (R) | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 33 | 45 | −12 | 40 | |
| 18 | Inter Allies (R) | 34 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 28 | 45 | −17 | 26 |
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Ebusua Dwarfs were relegated based on head-to-head disadvantage against Elmina Sharks and King Faisal not goal difference.[42][43][44]
Season statistics
Scoring
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diawisie Taylor |
Karela United | 18 |
| 2 | Kwame Peprah |
King Faisal | 12 |
| 3 | Joseph Esso |
Dreams | 11 |
| Hans Kwofie |
Ashanti Gold / Legon Cities | ||
| Stephen Amankona |
Berekum Chelsea | ||
| 6 | Samuel Adams |
Aduana Stars | 10 |
| Kwadwo Obeng Jnr. |
Hearts of Oak | ||
| Maxwell Nii Abbey Quaye |
Great Olympics | ||
| 9 | Agyenim Boateng Mensah |
Dreams | 9 |
| Augustine Boakye |
WAFA | ||
| Benjamin Tweneboah |
Elmina Sharks / Aduana Stars |
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwame Peprah |
King Faisal | Berekum Chelsea | 4–3 (H)[45] | 30 January 2021 |
| Moro Sumaila |
Ebusua Dwarfs | Karela United | 4–1 (A)[46] | 24 April 2021 |
| Isaac Opoku Agyemang |
Ashanti Gold | Inter Allies | 7–0 (H)[47] | 17 July 2021 |
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean
sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Razak Abalora |
Asante Kotoko | 12 |
| Richard Attah |
Hearts of Oak | ||
| 3 | Kofi Baah |
Liberty Professionals | 11 |
| 4 | Joseph Addo |
Aduana Stars | 9 |
| 5 | Seidu Rashid |
Inter Allies | 8 |
| Richard Baidoo |
Karela United | ||
| Frank Boateng |
Medeama | ||
| 8 | Solomon Agbesi |
Dreams | 6 |
| Benjamin Asare |
Great Olympics | ||
| Eric Ofori Antwi |
Medeama |
Awards
Monthly awards
As of 29 July 2021
| Month | Player of the Month | Manager of the Month | References | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | Manager | Club | ||
| December | Gladson Awako |
Great Olympics | Kwaku Danso |
Bechem United | [48][49] |
| January | Diawisie Taylor |
Karela United | Evans Adotey |
Karela United | [50][51][52] |
| February | Joseph Esso |
Dreams FC | Vladislav Virić |
Dreams FC | [53][54] |
| April | Abdul Basit |
WAFA | Yaw Preko |
Medeama S.C. | [55][56] |
| May | Salifu Ibrahim |
Hearts of Oak | Samuel Boadu |
Hearts of Oak | [57][58] |
| June | Augustine Boakye |
WAFA | Samuel Boadu |
Hearts of Oak | [59][60] |
Annual awards
| Award | Winner | Club | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana Football Awards Coach of the Year | Samuel Boadu |
Hearts of Oak | [61] |
| Ghana Football Awards Home-based Player of Year | Salifu Ibrahim |
Hearts of Oak | |
| GPL NASCO Coach of the Season | Samuel Boadu |
Hearts of Oak | [62] |
| GPL NASCO Player of the Season | Salifu Ibrahim |
Hearts of Oak |