Ghana Premier League: Kotoko coach Prince Owusu gives up on title chase

Asante Kotoko interim head coach Prince Owusu has expressed disappointment in his charges after their 1-2 loss against Samartex in Tuesday’s conclusion from Week 28 of the Ghana Premier League.

The game was scheduled for Monday, April 6 but heavy rains disrupted second half activities, pushing hostilities to Tuesday morning at the Baba Yara Stadium.

With the game continuing in the second half after a barren first, Samartex shot ahead in the 55th minute through the effort of Christian Agyenim Boateng.

Seven minutes from time, Emmanuel Mamah doubled the lead for the visitors, a result that almost put the game beyond Kotoko.

Elvis Kyei Baffour was brought down in the Samartex area two minutes to full time for Kotoko to snatch a goal back from the spot.

Defensive captain Samba O’Neil failed to convert his penalty but Albert Amoah arrived to provide a consolation for the Porcupine Warriors.

Coach Owusu was left distraught after the entire proceedings.

“It was so obvious, I felt bad after the game and it’s started from yesterday, the way they played the game yesterday, it didn’t go the way we wanted so I could see it coming but we tried to prevent it and we couldn’t do that,” Owusu said after the game.

“The boys were not playing to the system that we wanted them to play.

Owusu admits that the league title chase looks far from reach after the loss.

“It looks like it, but I don’t know, that’s football but right now if I look at the points and what we have, it doesn’t look good.

“The two goals that we conceded were just defensive blunders. If I say they didn’t play to the rhythm, they tried their best but it was not the way we wanted it.”

The defeat leaves the record Ghana Premier League holders in 4th on 43 points, three points behind rivals Hearts of Oak who beat Young Apostles 1-0 on Sunday.

They are eight points adrift of leaders, GoldStars, and will next turn their attention to the week 29 fixture away second place Medeama on Sunday, April 12.

For Samartex, the win lifts them to sixth place, strengthening their push for a top-four finish with seven games to end the campaign.

Updated Ghana Premier League table

Bibiani Gold Stars go back on top.

Who wins the league and who gets relegated?#GPL #GPLMW28 pic.twitter.com/0qw8kxpf3V

— Ghana Premier League (@GhanaLeague) April 7, 2026

Zira FK forward Leroy-Jacques Mickels enjoyed a strong start to life with the Rwanda national team during his debut appearances for Amavubi and he has brought his scoring touch back to the Azerbaijan Premier League.

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Mickels opened the scoring against a former club on Tuesday in Zira’s 1-1 draw with Shamakhi FC. Unfortunately, despite a red card issued to the visitors early in the second half, Shamakhi equalized in stoppage time to share the spoils with their hosts.

The German-born attacker was given the start and finished with a low strike in the 69th minute. He played the full match for Zira for the first time in 2026.

Rwanda debut inspires strong form at club Zira FK

Over the March FIFA window, Mickels joined older brothers Joy-Lance and Joy-Slayd to debut for Rwanda in the regional FIFA Series hosted by the East African country. All three brothers featured in the two matches against Grenada and Estonia and made instant impacts, with Leroy and Joy-Lance each scoring.

#FIFASeries Final

Goaaaaaaal

InfosAiming to go back-to-back at home in the URCThe four South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship franchises will target another perfect run of home victories in a gripping round of action this weekend, where victories...Ouvrir →

Leroy Mickels 53′

Rwanda 2-0 Estonia

@chrismiga_ #Murisiporonigitego pic.twitter.com/iMn5gPR8W2

— B&B Kigali 89.7 FM (@bbkigalifm) March 30, 2026

The brothers were given a hero’s welcome by the home supporters, who turned out in massive numbers to support their national team over both matches and were left impressed by the dual national recruits.

Leroy spent most of his career in his country of birth. A graduate of the youth academy of Borussia Mönchengladbach, he spent over eight seasons bouncing between the fourth, fifth and third divisions of German football before venturing abroad. After brief spells in Bulgaria and the second tier of the Saudi football pyramid, he spent a season with Shamakhi before joining his current club.

Mickels returned from the FIFA Series by coming on as a late substitute to score in a 2-0 victory at Turan Tovuz before earning the start and scoring again on Tuesday.

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It is an important stretch for Mickels and his club, making Tuesday’s result a disappointing one. Zira are in fourth place on the league table, six points back of third place Turan Tovuz and potential qualification for continental competition next season with seven league matches remaining.

However, they also remain in the hunt for cup glory with a semifinal second leg coming up against Turan, who they will host in the second leg after a 2-0 result in the first leg away from home.

The two sides lock horns for the second time this season following Orlando Pirates’ 3-1 win in the first round at King Zwelithini Stadium on 5 November 2025.

STARTING LINE UPS

Orlando Pirates starting line up: Chaine, Sebelebele, Seema, Sibisi, Hotto, Nemtajela, Mbatha, Moremi, Mofokeng, Appollis, Mbuthuma.

Substitutes: 35. Buthelezi, 43. Chabatsane, 28. Maswanganyi, 23. Mbule, 21. Van Rooyen, 8. Makhaula, 3. Ndaba, 17. Makgopa, 14. De Jong.

Golden Arrows starting line up: Maova, Van Rooi, Dion, Mabaso, Jiyane, Dlamini, Sibiya , Maxwele, Mafuleka, Shezi, Zwane

Substitutes: Ngcobo, Maluleke, Sithole, Lukhele, Msomi, Nguse, Cisse, B.Cele, Gasa.

ORLANDO PIRATES AND GOLDEN ARROWS BOTH EXPECTED TO SCORE

Orlando Pirates come into this clash in red-hot form, fresh from a dominant 6-0 win over TS Galaxy just before the FIFA break on 22 March. Despite that emphatic result, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has made only one change to his side.

The Buccaneers are right in the thick of the title race, sitting on 51 points, just two behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on 53. It’s been a season built on balance, with Orlando Pirates proving just as solid at the back as they are dangerous going forward. They have conceded only nine goals in 22 matches, a clear reflection of Ouaddou’s defensive pedigree from his playing days, while scoring 40, just one shy of Sundowns.

Silverware has already arrived in Orlando, with Orlando Pirates lifting both the MTN8 and Carling Knockout earlier in the campaign.

Meanwhile, visitors Golden Arrows, also known as Abafana Bes’thende, have shown flashes of brilliance but struggled for consistency. Under coach Manqoba Mngqithi, they sit eighth on the table with 28 points from 22 matches, recording eight wins, four draws, and ten defeats.

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Their standout moments this season include impressive wins over Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns. Going forward, Arrows have been productive, ranking among the league’s top scorers with 28 goals. However, they’ve conceded the same number, highlighting a defensive vulnerability Pirates will look to exploit.

Even so, Mngqithi has placed his trust in youth at the back tonight, handing responsibility to a young defensive unit featuring Mafuleka (20) at left-back, alongside Mabaso (21) and captain Jiyane (23) in central defence.

À une heure du choc tant attendu entre le Real Madrid et le Bayern Munich, les compositions officielles sont rendues publiques. Côté bavarois, tous les regards étaient tournés vers Harry Kane. Incertain ces derniers jours, l’attaquant anglais est bien présent et mènera l’attaque du Bayern Munich. Une excellente nouvelle pour les hommes de Thomas Tuchel, qui pourront compter sur leur serial buteur pour tenter de faire plier la défense madrilène. En face, le Real Madrid n’a pas réservé de surprise majeure. Kylian Mbappé est bien titularisé et sera le leader offensif de la Maison Blanche. L’international français, très attendu dans ce type de rendez-vous, aura la lourde responsabilité de guider l’attaque madrilène face à une défense allemande toujours redoutable. Autour de Mbappé, le Real Madrid aligne ses cadres habituels, avec une équipe taillée pour les grandes soirées européennes. Même constat du côté du Bayern Munich, qui mise sur son expérience et sa puissance offensive pour rivaliser au Santiago Bernabéu. Ce duel entre deux géants du football européen s’annonce explosif, avec des stars présentes sur la pelouse et une qualification en jeu. Tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour un spectacle de très haut niveau. Les compositions officielles Real Madrid : Lunin – Trent – Rudiger – Huljsen – Carreras – Tchouameni – Valverde – Pitarch – Arda Guller – Vinicius – Mbappe Bayern Munich : Neuer Upamecano – Tah – Kimmich – Gnabry – Kane – Luis Diaz – Olise – Laimer – Stanisic – Pavlovic

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