Founded in October 1996, Inter Allies are in their 5th season in the history of the Ghana Premier League and will welcome one of the pioneers of the competition, Accra Hearts of Oak in Match Day three of the 2020-21 Ghana Premier League (GPL) campaign in Accra on Sunday.
Inter Allies made their GPL debut in the 2013-2014 season after gaining promotion from the lower division league, have since remained in the top flight campaign with a best finish of 6th place with 42 points in their second season. The “Eleven is to One” lads will come up against 20-time champions of the league Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club, who are also in their 58th appearance in the league since its inauguration in 1956.
This will be a second home match in the 2020-21 campaign for Inter Allies and their third game in the season. The 2013/14 FA Cup finalists will seek to record a first win of the season against the Phobians who will also be hoping for a win in what will be their second game of the league campaign this term with a game in hand (against Aduana Stars).
TEAM NEWS
Inter Allies
The Capelli Boys will go into the match against Accra Hearts of Oak with much of morale as two key players have returned from injuries and will be available to boost the squad. Coach Henrik Lehm have a good news as goalkeeper Gideon Ahenkorah has recovered from illness and passed fit for the game. Left Back Fard Ibrahim missed the trip to Aiyinase due to fitness issues, where his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Karela United. The defender has returned to the squad and may have a role to play against Hearts of Oak if the Danish gaffer gives him the nod.
Accra Hearts of Oak
Coach Edward Odoom has no injury concerns in camp ahead of the match against Inter Allies. Odoom has a full house of his key players all fit for this game, and has the materials for any system of his choice.
Striker Kojo Obeng Jnr, who, after scoring brace against Ashanti Gold in their first game, picked up a knock, has been declared fit by the medical team and has been included in the squad for the crucial game. The sharp shooting Abednego Tetteh who missed the game against Ashanti Gold due to health issues, has recovered fully and trained with the squad for the entire week. The former Bechem United forward will also be available for his competitive debut for the Phobians if given the chance.
In defence, the likes of Nuru Sulley, Mohammed Alhassan, Fatawu Mohammed will welcome their counterpart Robert Addo Sowah, after the left back recovered from an injury that ruled him out of the first game against Ashgold.
MATCH FACTS
- Inter Allies are yet to score a goal after two matches played in the 2020/21 GPL
- The Capelli Boys are yet to win a league match this season (D1, L1)
- In the last 10 meetings, Inter Allies have won 2 matches against Hearts of Oak (D5, L3)
HEAD TO HEAD
Generally, Inter Allies and Accra Hearts of Oak have meet 12 times in the top flight competition, but this is factually accurate depending on which stats you count. Since 2013/14 season when Inter Allies were promoted to the elite division, two league seasons (2018 and 2019/2020) have got truncated midway due to natural causes. In each of these two seasons, the two sides met once instead of twice before the eventual cancellation of the league and these two games are counted in the statistics of ghanasportspage.com.
Secondly, the two sides met twice in the 2019 NC Special Competition, a competition, which on paper, and in reality, is recognised as having replaced the actual premier league competition for that season (as the two clubs that won the competition were given the tickets to represent Ghana in the CAF inter club competitions). These 2 matches in a addition to the other 2 games played before the eventual canIncellation of the 2018 and 2019/20 leagues give us 4 matches. Inter Allies and Accra Hearts of Oak have met eight (8) times in a fully played league season, and that in addition to the other 4 gives us 12 matches between the two sides.
In the 12 league matches, Accra Hearts of Oak have won 5, drawn 5 and lost 2. The Phobians have scored 14 goals on the road and allowed 9. In reverse, Allies have won 2 out of the 12 matches, drawn 5 and lost 5, scored 9 goals and have conceded 14 against Hearts of Oak.
MATCH INFORMATION
League Match Week 3
Date: Sunday, 29th November 2020
Time: 6:00pm
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Maxwell Hanson
Assistant 1: Roland Addy
Assistant 2: Pascal Mawusi
Fourth Referee: Julian Nunoo
Match Commissioner: James Mornah
Venue Media Officer: Fredrick Gyan-Mante