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2020–21 Ghana Premier League

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Ghana Premier League
Season2020–21
Dates14 November 2020 — 18 July 2021
ChampionsAccra Hearts of Oak
RelegatedEbusua Dwarfs
Liberty Professionals
Inter Allies
Champions LeagueHearts of Oak
Matches played306
Goals scored694 (2.27 per match)
Top goalscorer(18 goals)
Diawisie Taylor
Biggest home winAshanti Gold 7–0 Inter Allies
(18 July 2021)
Biggest away winLiberty 1–5 Ashanti Gold
(24 June 2021)
Highest scoringWAFA 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
All statistics correct as of 18 June 2021.
Live Matches on StarTimes

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 since twelve years.

Season overview

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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.[5] 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.[6][7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10][11]

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

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  • 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.[12]

Challenges

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COVID-19

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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.[13]

The game between Liberty Professionals and Bechem United was also postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

Teams

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The 2020-2021 Ghana Premier League season has seen an increase in the number of clubs from 16 to 18 clubs.[15] 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.[16]

class=notpageimage|
Location of the 2020–21 Ghanaian Premier League teams

Stadiums and locations

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Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.[17]

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

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The table lists club managers.[18][19][20]

Team Manager Captain
Aduana Stars Ghana Asare Bediako Ghana Joseph Addo
Asante Kotoko Portugal Mariano Barreto Ghana Felix Annan
Ashanti Gold France Romain Folz Ghana Amos Addai
Bechem United Ghana Mingle Ocansey Kasim Ghana Moro Salifu
Berekum Chelsea Ghana Seth Hoffman Ghana Stephen Amankona
Dreams Serbia Vladislav Virić Ghana Michael Agbekpornu
Ebusua Dwarfs Ghana James Kuuku Dadzie Ghana Dennis Korsah
Eleven Wonders Ghana Ignatius Osei-Fosu Ghana Simms Kwayie
Elmina Sharks Ghana Joachim Yaw Acheampong Ghana Ishmael Hammond
Great Olympics Ghana Annor Walker Ghana Gladson Awako
Hearts of Oak Ghana Samuel Boadu Ghana Abdul Fatawu Mohammed
Inter Allies Denmark Henrik Peters Lehm Ghana Hashmin Musah
Karela United Ghana Evans Adotey Ghana Godfred Agyemang Yeboah
King Faisal Serbia Slaviša Božičić Ghana Michael Akuffo
Legon Cities Ghana Bashir Hayford Ghana Fatau Dauda
Liberty Professionals Ghana Andy Sinason (co-interim)
Ghana Sellas Tetteh 		Ghana Shaibu Ganiu
Ghana George William Ansong
Medeama Ghana Yaw Preko Ghana Joseph Tetteh Zutah
WAFA Ghana Prosper Nartey Ogum Ghana Ibrahim Abukari

Managerial changes

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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[21][22]
Asante Kotoko Maxwell Konadu Sacked 18 December 2020 Johnson Smith (Interim Manager) 18 December 2020 6th[23][24]
Johnson Smith (Interim Manager) End of Interim basis 26 March 2021 Mariano Barreto 26 March 2021 6th[25]
Hearts of Oak Edward Odum Re-assigned to the youth team December 2019 Kosta Papic 2 December 2020 11th[26][27]
Kosta Papic Resigned 15 February 2021 Samuel Boadu 2 March 2021 11th[28][29]
Dreams FC Winfred Dormon Re-assigned as assistant coach 8 January 2021 Vladislav Virić 8 January 2021 16th[30][31]
Berekum Chelsea Michael Hesse Odamtten Sacked 9 January 2021 Seth Hoffman 13 January 2021 15th[32][33]
Ashanti Gold Milovan Cirkovic Mutual consent 23 February 2021 Romain Folz 31 March 2021 7th[34][35]
Medeama SC Samuel Boadu Resigned 25 February 2021 Yaw Preko 3 March 2021 3rd[36][37]
Aduana Stars Samuel Paa Kwesi Fabin End of Contract 27 February 2021 Asare Bediako 1 March 2021 8th[38][39]
Bechem United Ernest Danso Mutual consent 25 March 2021 Mingle Ocansey Kasim 25 March 2021 8th[40]
Liberty Professionals David Ocloo Sacked 21 April 2021 Andy Sinason

Sellas Tetteh

21 April 2021 17th
Ebusua Dwarfs Ernest Thompson-Quartey Resigned 13 June 2021 James Kuuku Dadzie 15 June 2021 12th[41]

League table

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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
Updated to match(es) played on 18 July 2021. Source: type=Goal.com
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Ebusua Dwarfs were deducted 3points.[42]

Ebusua Dwarfs were relegated based on head-to-head disadvantage against Elmina Sharks and King Faisal not goal difference.[43][44][45]

Season statistics

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Scoring

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals
1 Ghana Diawisie Taylor Karela United 18
2 Ghana Kwame Peprah King Faisal 12
3 Ghana Joseph Esso Dreams 11
Ghana Hans Kwofie Ashanti Gold / Legon Cities
Ghana Stephen Amankona Berekum Chelsea
6 Ghana Samuel Adams Aduana Stars 10
Ghana Kwadwo Obeng Jnr. Hearts of Oak
Ghana Maxwell Nii Abbey Quaye Great Olympics
9 Ghana Agyenim Boateng Mensah Dreams 9
Ghana Augustine Boakye WAFA
Ghana Benjamin Tweneboah Elmina Sharks / Aduana Stars

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Date
Ghana Kwame Peprah King Faisal Berekum Chelsea 4–3 (H)[46] 30 January 2021
Ghana Moro Sumaila Ebusua Dwarfs Karela United 4–1 (A)[47] 24 April 2021
Ghana Isaac Opoku Agyemang Ashanti Gold Inter Allies 7–0 (H)[48] 17 July 2021

Clean sheets

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Rank Player Club Clean

sheets

1 Ghana Razak Abalora Asante Kotoko 12
Ghana Richard Attah Hearts of Oak
3 Ghana Kofi Baah Liberty Professionals 11
4 Ghana Joseph Addo Aduana Stars 9
5 Ghana Seidu Rashid Inter Allies 8
Ghana Richard Baidoo Karela United
Ghana Frank Boateng Medeama
8 Ghana Solomon Agbesi Dreams 6
Ghana Benjamin Asare Great Olympics
Ghana Eric Ofori Antwi Medeama

Awards

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Monthly awards

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As of 29 July 2021

Month Player of the Month Manager of the Month References
Player Club Manager Club
December Ghana Gladson Awako Great Olympics Ghana Kwaku Danso Bechem United [49][50]
January Ghana Diawisie Taylor Karela United Ghana Evans Adotey Karela United [51][52][53]
February Ghana Joseph Esso Dreams FC Serbia Vladislav Virić Dreams FC [54][55]
April Ghana Abdul Basit WAFA Ghana Yaw Preko Medeama S.C. [56][57]
May Ghana Salifu Ibrahim Hearts of Oak Ghana Samuel Boadu Hearts of Oak [58][59]
June Ghana Augustine Boakye WAFA Ghana Samuel Boadu Hearts of Oak [60][61]

Annual awards

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Award Winner Club Ref
Ghana Football Awards Coach of the Year Ghana Samuel Boadu Hearts of Oak [62]
Ghana Football Awards Home-based Player of Year Ghana Salifu Ibrahim Hearts of Oak
GPL NASCO Coach of the Season Ghana Samuel Boadu Hearts of Oak [63]
GPL NASCO Player of the Season Ghana Salifu Ibrahim Hearts of Oak

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ghana resolve to keep 18-team Premier League beyond 2019–20". Goal.com. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Premier League Fixtures". Ghana FA. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "StarTimes to telecast minimum of 68 Live Matches in GPL 1st round". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  4. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "GFA launches 2020/2021 football season". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Ghana resolve to keep 18-team Premier League beyond 2019–20". Goal.com. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Coronavirus: Ghana Football Association suspends Premier League after presidential directive". Goal.com. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Coronavirus: Aduana Stars coach Fabin afraid to restart Ghana Premier League". Goal. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Covid-19: Blow for Premier League as Ghana extends ban on contact sports". Goal. 31 May 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  9. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Accreditation for 2020/21 season". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Covid-19: GFA to start testing of Ghana Premier League players and officials today – MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  11. ^ "All premier league clubs have completed Covid-19 testing – GFA – MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "GFA announces prize money for Premier League winner and runners up". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Ghana Premier League teams record 56 cases of coronavirus". www.ghanaweb.com. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Coronavirus knocks out another Ghana Premier League match, Liberty-Bechem game postponed". www.ghanaweb.com. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Ghana Premier League: Clubs vote to maintain 18-team league henceforth". Citi Sports Online. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  16. ^ "GHPL: Five teams choose Accra Stadium as home grounds as clubs present venues for 2020/2021 season". Citi Sports Online. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  17. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Submitted venues for 2020/2021 football season". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  18. ^ "List of Ghana Premier League coaches for 2020/2021 season". Pulse Ghana. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  19. ^ "2020/21 Ghana Premier League: Captains of all 18 clubs in the competition". GhanaSoccernet. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  20. ^ Benaiah Elorm, Al-Smith Gary (13 November 2020). "The ultimate 18-team Ghana Premier League season guide 2020/21 - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  21. ^ "GPL: Legon Cities sack coach Goran Barjaktarevic – Reports". Citi Sports Online. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Legon Cities sack head coach Goran Barjaktarevic after 17 games in charge". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Asante Kotoko sack coach Maxwell Konadu". Citi Sports Online. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Kotoko sack Maxwell Konadu after Great Olympics defeat". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Asante Kotoko appoint former Black Stars coach Barreto". Citi Sports Online. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  26. ^ "Kosta Papic appointed Hearts of Oak coach, ditches SA academy plans". Kick Off. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  27. ^ "OFFICIAL: Kosta Papic named new Hearts of Oak Head Coach". Citi Sports Online. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  28. ^ "Hearts of Oak coach Kosta Papic quits". Citi Sports Online. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Hearts of Oak sign coach Samuel Boadu on a three-year deal". www.ghanaweb.com. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  30. ^ "JUST IN: Dreams FC name Serbian coach Vladislav Viric as new manager". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Dreams FC appoints Serbian tactician Vladislav Viric as new head coach". Citi Sports Online. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Berekum Chelsea sack Coach Michael Hesse Odamtten". Citi Sports. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  33. ^ "Seth Hoffman in line for Berekum Chelsea job". Sahr Football. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Ashantigold mutually part ways with head coach Milovan Cirkovic". ghanaweb. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  35. ^ "Ashantigold announce Romain Folz as new head coach". Citi Sports Online. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  36. ^ "GPL: 'Unhappy' Samuel Boadu quits Medeama". Citi Sports Online. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  37. ^ "OFFICIAL: Medeama appoint Yaw Preko as head coach, Yaw Acheampong is assistant". GhanaSoccernet. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  38. ^ "BREAKING: Paa Kwesi Fabin finally leaves Aduana Stars". kickgh. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  39. ^ "GPL: Asare Bediako replaces Paa Kwesi Fabin as Aduana Stars head coach". Citi Sports Online. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  40. ^ "Bechem United appoint Mingle Ocansey Kasim as Head Coach". ghanasoccernet. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  41. ^ "Official: Relegation-threatened Ebusua Dwarfs names James Kuuku Dadzie as new head coach". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Legon Cities wins GPL matchday 23 game against Dwarfs after DC ruling, Dwarfs drop to relegation zone". Ghana Soccernet. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  43. ^ "GPL wrap: Liberty and Ebusua Dwarfs relegated, Aduana end season unbeaten at home - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  44. ^ "Liberty Professionals, Ebusua Dwarfs, Inter Allies caught in relegation net". Graphic Online. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  45. ^ "Former Ghana Premier League winners Ebusua Dwarfs relegated on final day". GhanaSoccernet. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  46. ^ "2020/21 Ghana Premier League: King Faisal hat-trick hero Kwame Peprah named MOTM against Berekum Chelsea". GhanaSoccernet. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  47. ^ "Match Report of Karela United FC vs Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs - 2021-06-28 - Ghana Premier League - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  48. ^ "Match Report of Ashanti Gold SC vs Inter Allies FC - 2021-07-17 - Ghana Premier League - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  49. ^ Association, Ghana Football (14 January 2021). "Gladson Awako wins GPL NASCO Player of the Month -December". www.ghanafa.org. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  50. ^ Association, Ghana Football (14 January 2021). "2020/21 GPL Season: Kwaku Danso wins December NASCO Coach of the Month Award". www.ghanafa.org. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  51. ^ "2020/21 Ghana Premier League: Karela United forward Diawise Taylor named Player of the Month for January". GhanaSoccernet. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  52. ^ "GPL: Diawusie Taylor, Evans Adotey win January awards". Citi Sports Online. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  53. ^ MyNewsGH (13 February 2021). "GPL: Evans Adotey wins NASCO coach of January award". MyNewsGh. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  54. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Esso wins NASCO Player of the Month for February". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  55. ^ "Dreams FC's Vladislav Viric named GPL coach of the month - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  56. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "WAFA's Abdul Basit named as NASCO Player of the month-April". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  57. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Yaw Preko wins NASCO Coach of the Month-April". www.ghanafa.org.[permanent dead link‍]
  58. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Ibrahim Salifu named NASCO player of the Month for May". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  59. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Samuel Boadu wins Coach of the month award". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  60. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "AUGUSTINE BOAKYE WINS NASCO GPL PLAYER OF MONTH FOR JUNE". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  61. ^ Association, Ghana Football (31 July 2021). "Samuel Boadu named NASCO GPL Coach of the Month for June". www.ghanafa.org. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  62. ^ "Ghana Football Awards: Full list of winners - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  63. ^ Andoh, Hans Mensah (30 August 2021). "GPL Awards: Hearts of Oak's Boadu and Salifu named NASCO coach and player of the season - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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