2020–21 Ghana Premier League
{{Short description|65th season of top professional association football league in Ghana}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}{{Infobox football league season
| image =
| pixels = 200px
| competition = Ghana Premier League
| season = 2020–21
| dates = 14 November 2020 — 18 July 2021
| winners = Accra Hearts of Oak
| relegated = Ebusua Dwarfs
Liberty Professionals
Inter Allies
| continentalcup1 = Champions League
| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Hearts of Oak
| continentalcup2 = Confederation Cup
| continentalcup2 qualifiers =
| matches = 306
| total goals = 694
| league topscorer = (18 goals)
Diawisie Taylor
| biggest home win = Ashanti Gold 7{{ndash}}0 Inter Allies
(18 July 2021)
| biggest away win = Liberty 1{{ndash}}5 Ashanti Gold
(24 June 2021)
| highest scoring = WAFA 5{{ndash}}4 Medeama
(3 January 2021)
| longest wins = (5 games)
Hearts of Oak
| longest unbeaten = (11 games)
Hearts of Oak
| longest winless = (7 games)
International Allies
| longest losses = (7 games)
International Allies
| highest attendance =
| lowest attendance =
| average attendance =
| prevseason = 2019–20
| nextseason = 2021–22
| updated = 18 June 2021
| extra information = Live Matches on StarTimes
| country = {{flagicon|GHA}} (18 teams)
}}
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.{{cite web|date=19 December 2019|title=Ghana resolve to keep 18-team Premier League beyond 2019–20|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/ghana-resolve-to-keep-18-team-premier-league-beyond-2019-20/9ymi03fs7g7o1gre2nzjc8p9w|access-date=11 June 2020|website=Goal.com}} 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.{{cite web|title=Premier League Fixtures|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/premier-league/premier-league-fixtures|access-date=9 June 2020|website=Ghana FA}}{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Ghana Football|title=StarTimes to telecast minimum of 68 Live Matches in GPL 1st round|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/startimes-to-telecast-minimum-of-68-live-matches-in-gpl-1st-round|access-date=30 November 2020|website=www.ghanafa.org|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Ghana Football|title=GFA launches 2020/2021 football season|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/gfa-launches-2020-2021-football-season|access-date=30 November 2020|website=www.ghanafa.org|language=en}} Hearts of Oak became champion for the first time since twelve years.
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.{{cite web|date=19 December 2019|title=Ghana resolve to keep 18-team Premier League beyond 2019–20|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/ghana-resolve-to-keep-18-team-premier-league-beyond-2019-20/9ymi03fs7g7o1gre2nzjc8p9w|access-date=11 June 2020|website=Goal.com}} 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.{{cite web|date=15 March 2020|title=Coronavirus: Ghana Football Association suspends Premier League after presidential directive|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/coronavirus-ghana-football-association-suspends-premier/lj6rk3p2k21u1x0twtmmfz3vz|access-date=11 June 2020|website=Goal.com}}{{cite web|date=6 June 2020|title=Coronavirus: Aduana Stars coach Fabin afraid to restart Ghana Premier League|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/coronavirus-aduana-stars-coach-fabin-afraid-to-restart-ghana/155ez1glmsbfc16t6v5qr4drwx|access-date=9 June 2020|website=Goal}} 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.{{cite web|date=31 May 2020|title=Covid-19: Blow for Premier League as Ghana extends ban on contact sports|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/covid-19-more-blow-for-premier-league-as-ghana-extends-ban/8usari43jmby14fnn1o04qmgq|access-date=8 June 2020|website=Goal}}
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.{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Ghana Football|title=Accreditation for 2020/21 season|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/accreditation-for-2020-21-season|access-date=30 November 2020|website=www.ghanafa.org|language=en}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Covid-19: GFA to start testing of Ghana Premier League players and officials today – MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/football/covid-19-gfa-to-start-testing-of-ghana-premier-league-players-and-officials-today/|access-date=30 November 2020|website=www.myjoyonline.com|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101004147/https://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/football/covid-19-gfa-to-start-testing-of-ghana-premier-league-players-and-officials-today/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=All premier league clubs have completed Covid-19 testing – GFA – MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/football/all-premier-league-clubs-have-completed-covid-19-testing-ghana-football-association/|access-date=30 November 2020|website=www.myjoyonline.com}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
The Ghana Football Association Chairman announced that 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 places 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 places second in the league season would receive GHC 150,000 and 40 silver medals and groceries from Melcom Shopping Center.
- The club that places third in the league season would earn an amount of GHC 80,000 and 40 bronze medals.{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Ghana Football|title=GFA announces prize money for Premier League winner and runners up|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/gfa-announces-prize-money-for-premier-league-winner-and-runners-up|access-date=30 November 2020|website=www.ghanafa.org|language=en}}
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.{{Cite web|date=14 November 2020|title=Ghana Premier League teams record 56 cases of coronavirus|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Ghana-Premier-League-teams-record-56-cases-of-coronavirus-1108825|access-date=14 November 2020|website=www.ghanaweb.com|language=en}}
The game between Liberty Professionals and Bechem United was also postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|date=15 November 2020|title=Coronavirus knocks out another Ghana Premier League match, Liberty-Bechem game postponed|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Coronavirus-knocks-out-another-Ghana-Premier-League-match-Liberty-Bechem-game-postponed-1109293|access-date=15 November 2020|website=www.ghanaweb.com|language=en}}
Teams
The 2020-2021 Ghana Premier League season has seen an increase in the number of clubs from 16 to 18 clubs.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-19|title=Ghana Premier League: Clubs vote to maintain 18-team league henceforth|url=https://citisportsonline.com/2019/12/19/ghana-premier-league-clubs-vote-to-maintain-18-team-league-henceforth/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=Citi Sports Online|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-02|title=GHPL: Five teams choose Accra Stadium as home grounds as clubs present venues for 2020/2021 season|url=https://citisportsonline.com/2020/10/02/ghpl-five-teams-choose-accra-stadium-as-home-grounds-as-clubs-present-venues-for-2020-2021-season/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=Citi Sports Online|language=en-US}}
{{Location map+|Ghana|float=right|width=340|caption=Location of the 2020–21 Ghanaian Premier League teams|places={{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=7.265118 |long=-2.86535 |label=Aduana}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=6.682681 |long=-1.605111 |label=Asante|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=6.208611 |long=-1.677222 |label=Ashanti}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=7.08832 |long=-2.02642 |label=Bechem}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=7.453794 |long=-2.585134 |label=Berekum}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=5.111389 |long=-1.257778 |label=Ebusua}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=5.099874 |long=-1.336840 |label=Elmina Sharks|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=5.551531 |long=-0.191767 |label=Olympics
Hearts|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=5.639785 |long=-0.0042 |label=Inter|position=top}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=5.639825 |long=-0.004185 |label=Legon Cities}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=5.557904 |long=-0.2721 |label=Liberty|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=5.301 |long=-1.9924 |label=Medeama}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=6.03516 |long=0.55043 |label=WAFA|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=5.035768
|long=-2.461735 |label=Karela|position=left}}}}
= Stadiums and locations =
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Ghana Football|title=Submitted venues for 2020/2021 football season|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/provisional-venues-for-2020-2021-football-season|access-date=30 November 2020|website=www.ghanafa.org|language=en}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Team !Location !Venue !Capacity |
| Aduana Stars
|7,000 |
| Asante Kotoko
|40,000 |
| Ashanti Gold
|20,000 |
| Bechem United
|5,000 |
| Berekum Chelsea
|5,000 |
| Dreams
|Dawu |Theatre of Dreams Sports Stadium |5,000 |
| Ebusua Dwarfs
|15,000 |
| Eleven Wonders
|2,000 |
| Elmina Sharks
|5,000 |
| Great Olympics
|40,000 |
| Hearts of Oak
|40,000 |
| Inter Allies
|Theatre of Dreams Sports Stadium |40,000 |
| Karela United
|Aiyinase |CAM Stadium |5000 |
| King Faisal
|10,000 |
| Legon Cities
|Accra Sports Stadium |40,000 |
| Liberty Professionals
|2000 |
| Medeama
|12,000 |
| WAFA
|1,000 |
= Club managers and captains =
The table lists club managers.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-06|title=List of Ghana Premier League coaches for 2020/2021 season|url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/list-of-coachlist-of-ghana-premier-league-coaches-for-20202021-seasones-of-the-18/lwyrhxf|access-date=2020-12-30|website=Pulse Ghana|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-11|title=2020/21 Ghana Premier League: Captains of all 18 clubs in the competition|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/2020-21-ghana-premier-league-captains-of-all-18-clubs-in-the-competition|access-date=2021-04-12|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Benaiah Elorm, Al-Smith Gary|date=13 November 2020|title=The ultimate 18-team Ghana Premier League season guide 2020/21 - MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/football/the-ultimate-18-team-ghana-premier-league-season-guide-2020-21/|url-status=dead|access-date=13 April 2021|website=www.myjoyonline.com|language=|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114140210/https://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/football/the-ultimate-18-team-ghana-premier-league-season-guide-2020-21/}}
| class="wikitable"
!Team !Manager !Captain |
| Aduana Stars
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Asare Bediako |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Joseph Addo |
| Asante Kotoko
|{{Flagicon|POR}} Mariano Barreto |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Felix Annan |
| Ashanti Gold
|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Romain Folz |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Amos Addai |
| Bechem United
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Mingle Ocansey Kasim |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Moro Salifu |
| Berekum Chelsea
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Seth Hoffman |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Stephen Amankona |
| Dreams
|{{Flagicon|SER}} Vladislav Virić |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Michael Agbekpornu |
| Ebusua Dwarfs
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} James Kuuku Dadzie |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Dennis Korsah |
| Eleven Wonders
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Ignatius Osei-Fosu |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Simms Kwayie |
| Elmina Sharks
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Joachim Yaw Acheampong |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Ishmael Hammond |
| Great Olympics
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Annor Walker |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Gladson Awako |
| Hearts of Oak
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Samuel Boadu |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Abdul Fatawu Mohammed |
| Inter Allies
|{{Flagicon|DEN}} Henrik Peters Lehm |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Hashmin Musah |
| Karela United
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Evans Adotey |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Godfred Agyemang Yeboah |
| King Faisal
|{{Flagicon|SRB}} Slaviša Božičić |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Michael Akuffo |
| Legon Cities
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Bashir Hayford |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Fatau Dauda |
| Liberty Professionals
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Andy Sinason (co-interim) {{Flagicon|GHA}} Sellas Tetteh |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Shaibu Ganiu {{Flagicon|GHA}} George William Ansong |
| Medeama
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Yaw Preko |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Joseph Tetteh Zutah |
| WAFA
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Prosper Nartey Ogum |{{Flagicon|GHA}} Ibrahim Abukari |
= Managerial changes =
League table
|update=18 July 2021
|source=[https://www.goal.com/en-gh/premier-league/table/4jg7he1n3rb5dniq6hf49xorq type=Goal.com]
|show_limit=5
|team1=HEA|team2=ASA|team3=WAF|team4=ADU|team5=MED|team6=GRE|team7=DRE|team8=KAR
|team9=ASH |team10=BER |team11=BEC |team12=ELE
|team13=LEG|team14=KIN |team15=ELM|team16=EBU|team17=LIB|team18=INT
|result1=pro |result16=rel|result17=rel|result18=rel
|win_ADU=16 |draw_ADU=7 |loss_ADU=11 |gf_ADU=44 |ga_ADU=42
|win_ASA=15 |draw_ASA=12|loss_ASA=7 |gf_ASA=37 |ga_ASA=22
|win_ASH=11 |draw_ASH=12 |loss_ASH=11 |gf_ASH=50 |ga_ASH=36
|win_BEC=11 |draw_BEC=9 |loss_BEC=14 |gf_BEC=38 |ga_BEC=47
|win_BER=12 |draw_BER=7 |loss_BER=15 |gf_BER=38 |ga_BER=46
|win_DRE=13 |draw_DRE=10 |loss_DRE=11 |gf_DRE=45 |ga_DRE=35
|win_EBU=12 |draw_EBU=8 |loss_EBU=14 |gf_EBU=40 |ga_EBU=44
|win_ELE=11 |draw_ELE=9 |loss_ELE=14 |gf_ELE=33 |ga_ELE=38
|win_ELM=10 |draw_ELM=11 |loss_ELM=13 |gf_ELM=34 |ga_ELM=45
|win_GRE=15|draw_GRE=7 |loss_GRE=12 |gf_GRE=37 |ga_GRE=33
|win_HEA=17 |draw_HEA=10 |loss_HEA=7 |gf_HEA=45 |ga_HEA=23
|win_INT=7 |draw_INT=5 |loss_INT=22 |gf_INT=28|ga_INT=45
|win_KAR=12 |draw_KAR=10 |loss_KAR=12|gf_KAR=42 |ga_KAR=41
|win_KIN=10 |draw_KIN=11 |loss_KIN=13|gf_KIN=32 |ga_KIN=45
|win_LEG=11 |draw_LEG=9 |loss_LEG=14|gf_LEG=34 |ga_LEG=35
|win_LIB=10 |draw_LIB=10 |loss_LIB=14|gf_LIB=33 |ga_LIB=45
|win_MED=15 |draw_MED=9 |loss_MED=10 |gf_MED=38 |ga_MED=34
|win_WAF=16 |draw_WAF=8 |loss_WAF=10 |gf_WAF=46 |ga_WAF=38
|name_ADU=Aduana Stars
|name_ASA=Asante Kotoko
|name_ASH=Ashanti Gold
|name_BEC=Bechem United
|name_BER=Berekum Chelsea
|name_DRE=Dreams
|name_EBU=Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs
|name_ELE=Eleven Wonders
|name_ELM=Elmina Sharks
|name_GRE=Great Olympics
|name_HEA=Hearts of Oak
|name_INT=Inter Allies
|name_KAR=Karela United
|name_KIN=King Faisal
|name_LEG=Legon Cities
|name_LIB=Liberty Professionals
|name_MED=Medeama
|name_WAF=WAFA
|status_INT=R
|status_LIB=R
|status_EBU=R
|status_HEA=C, Q
|adjust_points_EBU=-3
|hth_EBU=Ebusua Dwarfs were deducted 3points.{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Legon Cities wins GPL matchday 23 game against Dwarfs after DC ruling, Dwarfs drop to relegation zone|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/legon-cities-wins-matchday-23-game-against-dwarfs-after-dc-ruling-dwarfs-drop-to-relegation-zone|access-date=2020-05-19|website=Ghana Soccernet|language=en-US}}
|res_col_header=PR
|col_pro=green1 |text_pro=2021–22 CAF Champions League
|col_rel=red1 |text_rel=Relegation to Division One League
}}
Ebusua Dwarfs were relegated based on head-to-head disadvantage against Elmina Sharks and King Faisal not goal difference.{{Cite web|title=GPL wrap: Liberty and Ebusua Dwarfs relegated, Aduana end season unbeaten at home - MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/gpl-wrap-liberty-and-ebusua-dwarfs-relegated-aduana-end-season-unbeaten-at-home/|access-date=2021-07-20|website=www.myjoyonline.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Liberty Professionals, Ebusua Dwarfs, Inter Allies caught in relegation net|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/football/liberty-dwarfs-allies-caught-in-relegation-net.html|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|date=2021-07-18|title=Former Ghana Premier League winners Ebusua Dwarfs relegated on final day|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/former-ghana-premier-league-winners-ebusua-dwarfs-relegated-on-final-day|access-date=2021-07-20|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}
Season statistics
= Scoring =
== Top scorers ==
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Rank !Player !Club !Goals |
| 1
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Diawisie Taylor |18 |
| 2
|File:Flag_of_Ghana.svg Kwame Peprah |12 |
| rowspan="3" |3
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Joseph Esso | rowspan="3" |11 |
| File:Flag_of_Ghana.svg Hans Kwofie |
| File:Flag_of_Ghana.svg Stephen Amankona |
| rowspan="3" |6
|File:Flag_of_Ghana.svg Samuel Adams | rowspan="3" |10 |
| File:Flag_of_Ghana.svg Kwadwo Obeng Jnr. |
| File:Flag_of_Ghana.svg Maxwell Nii Abbey Quaye |
| rowspan="3" |9
|File:Flag_of_Ghana.svg Agyenim Boateng Mensah | rowspan="3" |9 |
| File:Flag_of_Ghana.svg Augustine Boakye
|WAFA |
| File:Flag_of_Ghana.svg Benjamin Tweneboah |
== Hat-tricks ==
| class="wikitable"
!Player !For !Against !Result !Date |
| {{flagicon|GHA}} {{sortname|Kwame|Peprah}}
|King Faisal |Berekum Chelsea |{{dts|2021|01|30|format=dmy}} |
| {{flagicon|GHA}} {{sortname|Moro|Sumaila}}
|Ebusua Dwarfs |Karela United |{{dts|2021|04|24|format=dmy}} |
| {{flagicon|GHA}} {{sortname|Isaac|Opoku Agyemang}}
|Ashanti Gold |Inter Allies |{{dts|2021|07|17|format=dmy}} |
= Clean sheets =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Rank !Player !Club !Clean sheets |
| rowspan="2"|1
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Razak Abalora |Asante Kotoko | rowspan="2"|12 |
| {{Flagicon|GHA}} Richard Attah
|Hearts of Oak |
| 3
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Kofi Baah |Liberty Professionals |11 |
| 4
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Joseph Addo |Aduana Stars |9 |
| rowspan="3" |5
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Seidu Rashid |Inter Allies | rowspan="3" |8 |
| {{Flagicon|GHA}} Richard Baidoo
|Karela United |
| {{Flagicon|GHA}} Frank Boateng
|Medeama |
| rowspan="3" |8
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Solomon Agbesi |Dreams | rowspan="3" |6 |
| {{Flagicon|GHA}} Benjamin Asare
|Great Olympics |
| {{Flagicon|GHA}} Eric Ofori Antwi
|Medeama |
Awards
= Monthly awards =
As of 29 July 2021
= Annual awards =
| class="wikitable"
!Award !Winner !Club !Ref |
| Ghana Football Awards Coach of the Year
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Samuel Boadu |Hearts of Oak |
| Ghana Football Awards Home-based Player of Year
|{{flagicon|GHA}} Salifu Ibrahim |Hearts of Oak |
| GPL NASCO Coach of the Season
|{{Flagicon|GHA}} Samuel Boadu |Hearts of Oak |
| GPL NASCO Player of the Season
|{{flagicon|GHA}} Salifu Ibrahim |Hearts of Oak |
See also
References
External links
- [https://www.ghanafa.org/category/premier-league Official Website]
- [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gha2021.html 2020–21 Ghana Premier League] at RSSF
- [https://gh.soccerway.com/national/ghana/premier-league/20202021/regular-season/r59074/ 2020–21 Ghana Premier League] at Soccerway
{{Football in Ghana}}{{Ghana Premier League}}{{Ghana Premier League Seasons}}{{2020–21 in African football (CAF)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2020-21 Ghana Premier League}}
Category:Ghana Premier League seasons