Wikipedia
Ghana Premier League
The Ghana Premier League, currently known as the betPawa Premier League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the top professional association football division of the football league system in Ghana.[2][3] Officially formed in 1956 to replace a previous league incarnation, the Gold Coast Club Competition (which began in 1933 and ended in 1953–54), the league is organized by the Ghana Football Association and was ranked as the 11th best league in Africa by the IFFHS from 2001 to 2010,[4] and the league was also ranked 65th in the IFFHS' Best Leagues of the World ranking, in the 1st Decade of the 21st Century (2001–2010).[5] on 4 February 2014.[6][7][8][9] It has been dominated by Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak. The bottom 3 teams are relegated at the end of each season and placed in each zone of the Ghanaian Division One League.
| Founded | 1956 |
|---|---|
| Country | Ghana |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 18 (from 2019–20) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Division One League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Ghanaian FA Cup Ghana Super Cup |
| International cup(s) | CAF Champions League CAF Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | Asante Kotoko (2021–22) |
| Most championships | Asante Kotoko (24 titles) |
| TV partners | StarTimes (live matches) |
| Website | ghanafa.org/premier-league |
| Current: 2022–23 Ghana Premier League | |
The 2019–20 season was halted and eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana that mirrored the cause of postponement or cancellation of association football leagues and competitions across the globe.
Participating clubs (2022–23)
Eighteen teams will compete in the league; the 15 from the previous season and the 3 winners of the Division One zones. The promoted teams are Samartex and Kotoku Royals who both achieved promotion for the first time.[10] They replaced WAFA, Techiman Eleven Wonders and Elmina Sharks.[11][12]
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Location of the 2022–23 Ghana Premier League teamsStadiums and locations
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accra Lions FC | Accra | Accra Sports Stadium | 40,000 |
| Aduana Stars | Dormaa Ahenkro | Agyeman Badu Stadium | 7,000 |
| Asante Kotoko | Kumasi | Baba Yara Stadium | 40,000 |
| Bechem United | Bechem | Nana Gyeabour's Park | 5,000 |
| Berekum Chelsea | Berekum | Sports Stadium | 5,000 |
| Bibiani Gold Stars | Bibiani | Dun's Park | 7,000 |
| Dreams FC | Dawu | Dawu Sports Stadium | 5,000 |
| Great Olympics | Accra | Accra Sports Stadium | 40,000 |
| Hearts of Oak | Accra | Accra Sports Stadium | 40,000 |
| Karela United | Aiyinase | CAM Stadium | 5,000 |
| King Faisal | Kumasi | Baba Yara Stadium | 40,000 |
| Kotoku Royals[13] | Akim Oda | Akim Oda Stadium | 3,000 |
| Legon Cities | Accra | El Wak Stadium | 7,000 |
| Medeama | Tarkwa | TNA Park | 15,000 |
| Nsoatreman FC | Nsuatre | Nana Kronmansah Park | 2,000 |
| Real Tamale United | Tamale | Tamale Stadium | 21,017 |
| Samartex[14] | Samreboi | Samartex Park | 7,000 |
| Tamale City FC[15] | Tamale | Tamale Stadium | 21,017 |
Club managers and captains
The table lists club managers.
| Team | Manager | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| Accra Lions FC | James Francis | Dominic Nsobila |
| Aduana Stars | Paa Kwesi Fabin | Bright Adjei |
| Asante Kotoko | Seydou Zerbo | Richard Boadu |
| Bechem United | Mingle Ocansey Kasim | Kofi Agbesimah |
| Berekum Chelsea | Christopher Ennin | Fuseini Zackaria |
| Bibiani Gold Stars | Micheal Osei | Yakubu Haqq |
| Dreams FC | Ignatius Osei-Fosu | Abdul Jalilu |
| Great Olympics | Yaw Preko | Razak Kasim |
| Hearts of Oak | Slavko Matić | Mohammed Alhassan |
| Karela United | Bismark Kobby Mensah | Kwadwo Addai |
| King Faisal | Jimmy Cobblah | Samuel Kusi |
| Kotoku Royals | Seth Ablade | Kingsley Afriyie |
| Legon Cities | Maxwell Konadu | Jonah Attuquaye |
| Medeama | David Duncan | Kwasi Donsu |
| Nsoatreman FC | Mohammed Gargo | Obed Duah Anford |
| Real Tamale United | Baba Nuhu | David Abagna |
| Samartex | Annor Walker | Emmanuel Adu Siaw |
| Tamale City FC | Mohammed Wahid | Collins Amoah Boateng |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Tamale United | Ibrahim Tanko Shaibu | Resigned | 26 July | Pre-season | Baba Nuhu | 12 August 2022 | [16][17] |
| Samartex | Henry Wellington | End of Interim Charge | 31 July | Pre-season | Annor Walker | 5 August 2022 | [18] |
| Great Olympics | Annor Walker | Signed by Samartex | 5 August 2022 | Pre-season | Yaw Preko | 6 August 2022 | [19] |
| Hearts of Oak | Samuel Boadu | Sacked | 28 September 2022 | 14th | Slavko Matić | 19 October 2022 | [20][21] |
| King Faisal | Branko Božović | Sacked | 4 October 2022 | 18th | Jimmy Cobblah | 7 October 2022 | [22][23] |
Previous winners
Previous winners of the Ghana Premier League are as follows:
- 1956: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1957: no winner
- 1958: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1959: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1960: Eleven Wise (Sekondi-Takoradi)
- 1961–62: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1962–63: Real Republicans (Accra)
- 1963–64: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1964–65: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1966: Abandoned
- 1967: Mysterious Dwarves (Cape Coast)
- 1967–68: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1969: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1970: Great Olympics (Accra)
- 1971: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1972: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1973: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1974: Great Olympics (Accra)
- 1975: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1976: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1977: Sekondi Hasaacas (Sekondi)
- 1978: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1979: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1980: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1981: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1982: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1983: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1984: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1985: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1986: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1987: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1988–89: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1989–90: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1990–91: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1991–92: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1992–93: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 1993–94: Goldfields (Obuasi)
- 1994–95: Goldfields (Obuasi)
- 1995–96: Goldfields (Obuasi)
- 1996–97: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1997–98: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 1999: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 2000: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 2001: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 2002: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 2003: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 2004–05: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 2005: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 2006–07: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 2007–08: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 2008–09: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 2009–10: Aduana Stars (Dormaa)
- 2010–11: Berekum Chelsea (Berekum)
- 2011–12: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 2012–13: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 2013–14: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 2015: Ashanti Gold (Obuasi)
- 2016: Wa All Stars (Wa)
- 2017: Aduana Stars (Dormaa)
- 2018: Abandoned[a]
- 2019:[b] Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)
- 2019–20: Abandoned[c]
- 2020–21: Hearts of Oak (Accra)
- 2021–22: Asante Kotoko (Kumasi)[24]
List of Ghanaian football champions since 1956
| Clubs | City/Region | Years | Winners | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asante Kotoko | Kumasi, Ashanti | 1959, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1967–1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988–89, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2003, 2005, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2021–22 | 24 | 2021–22 |
| Hearts of Oak | Accra, Greater Accra | 1956, 1958, 1961–62, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1989–90, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2020–21 | 21 | 2020–21 |
| Ashanti Gold[d] | Obuasi, Ashanti | 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2015 | 4 | 2015 |
| Great Olympics | Accra, Greater Accra | 1970, 1974 | 2 | 1974 |
| Aduana Stars | Dormaa Ahenkro, Bono | 2009–10, 2017 | 2 | 2017 |
| Eleven Wise | Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region | 1960 | 1 | 1960 |
| Real Republicans | Accra, Greater Accra | 1962–63 | 1 | 1962–63 |
| Mysterious Dwarfs | Cape Coast, Ghana Central Region | 1967 | 1 | 1967 |
| Sekondi Hasaacas | Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region | 1977 | 1 | 1977 |
| Berekum Chelsea | Berekum, Bono | 2010–11 | 1 | 2010–11 |
| Legon Cities[e] | Accra, Greater Accra | 2016 | 1 | 2016 |
Top scorers by season
Broadcasting rights
In September 2013, SuperSport secured the television production and broadcast rights to the Ghana Premier League after signing a deal with the GFA.[34] In 2017, Pay-TV provider and broadcaster StarTimes secured the official television production and broadcast rights holder for the league, broadcasting live matches per matchday on their branded decoders and equipment. [35]
See also
Notes and references
Notes
- ^ a b Abandoned on 7 June 2018 as a result of the dissolution of the GFA owing to Anas Aremeyaw Anas' investigative documentary on the body's internal corruptive operations.
- ^ Known as 2019 Ghana Football Association Normalization Committee Special Competition.
- ^ a b Abandoned and daclared null and void as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequential impact on its football operations.
- ^ Formerly known as Obuasi Goldfields.
- ^ Formerly known as Wa All Stars FC.
References
- ^ "GFA announces betPawa as new headline sponsor of the Ghana Premier League". www.ghanafa.org. 3 August 2022.
- ^ "Summary – Premier League – Ghana – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ Teye, Prince Narkotu (19 February 2016). "Ghana Premier League: An Idiot's Guide". www.goal.com. Goal. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Africa's strongest League in the 1st Decade of the 21st Century (2001–2010)". IFFHS. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- ^ "The strongest Leagues in the World in the 1st Decade of 21st Century (2001–2010)". IFFHS. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- ^ "First Capital Plus rescues Premier League with $10million sponsorship". Graphic Ghana. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ "Sports Minister hails First Capital Plus Bank for sponsoring Premier League". ghanasoccernet.com. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ . ghanafa.org/. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ . MTNFootball.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ "Division One League: Accra Lions earn historic promotion to the GPL after victory over Danbort". GhanaSoccernet.com. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "2021/22 Ghana Premier League: Elmina Sharks go into final matchday already relegated". GhanaWeb. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "2021/22 Ghana Premier League: Elmina Sharks relegated after defeat to Berekum Chelsea". GhanaSoccernet. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Oda-based Kotoku Royals secure Ghana Premier League promotion". GhanaSoccernet. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "FC Samartex book historic qualification to Ghana Premier League". Citi Sports Online. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Tamale City FC secure 2022/23 betPawa Premier League qualification". Ghanafa.org. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "RTU announces the appointment of Baba Nuhu as new manager". footballghana. 12 August 2022.
- ^ "RTU and coach Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko part ways ahead of new season". ghanaweb. 27 July 2022.
- ^ "Samartex FC Announce Annor Walker As New Head Coach". theghanareport. 7 August 2022.
- ^ "Great Olympics name Yaw Preko as new head coach following Annor Walker's departure". ghanasoccernet. 10 September 2022.
- ^ "Hearts sack Samuel Boadu". graphic.com.gh. 27 September 2022.
- ^ "Slavko Matic: Hearts confirms Serbian tactician as new head coach". ghanaweb. 20 October 2022.
- ^ "King Faisal sack Coach Branko Bozovic". happyghana.com. 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Experienced gaffer Jimmy Cobblah named new King Faisal head coach". modernghana. 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Asante Kotoko are Ghana Premier League champions". 2 June 2022.
- ^ "List of Topscorers". Ghana Web. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ "Top Scorers". World Football. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ Osei Asibey, Charles (23 September 2010). "Peter Lamptey, Ghana's first 'goalking'". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ a b c Yeboah, Thomas Freeman (8 April 2020). "I owe the success of my football career to Kwasi Owusu: Three times league top scorer Dan Owusu reveals". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ a b "'Attach former goal kings to national teams' – Choo". Modern Ghana. Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "1985 FA Cup Champions: Hasmal players jubilate after 2–1 win against Asante Kotoko". Sekondi Hasaacas F.C. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ Teye, Prince Narkortu (30 March 2020). "'Rest well legend' – Ghanaians react to news of Opoku Afriyie's demise". www.goal.com. Goal. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Down Memory Lane – Penalty Shootout in Ghana League Started In 1989–90 Premier League". NAB Online. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "2021/22 GPL: Yaw Annor nets twice to end campaign as top goalscorer". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ "SuperSport not bidding for broadcast rights of Ghana Premier League". 9 January 2020.
- ^ "STARTIMES ACQUIRES GHANA PREMIER LEAGUE MEDIA RIGHTS". Sport Industry Group. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
External links
- Official website
- at FIFA.com (archived 7 September 2007)
- GhanaWeb Football News
- RSSSF final table archive