African club round-up: Tight at the top in Ghana, Esperance held in Tunisia
African football is alive every weekend with exciting league action around the continent and our weekly round-up of league action highlights a selection of the most important results.
GHANA
The Premier League resumed on the weekend after a one month break and it could not be any closer at the top of the table with Asante Kotoko ahead of Bibiani Gold Stars on goals scored. Both clubs have 37 points from 20 games and a +10 goal-difference but Kotoko have scored more than Stars – 23 compared to 20. Both were winners on Sunday with Kotoko beating second-from-bottom Legon Cities 2-0 at home and Stars 1-0 victors over fifth placed Nations in Bibiani at the same time. Fullback Patrick Asiedu put Kotoko ahead in Kumasi and a late penalty from Kwame Opoku sealed their success. Michael Nkoah headed home from a corner after 69 minutes for Stars’ winner. Third in the standings are former African champions Hearts of Oak, only one point behind the leaders, after Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Young Apostles in Accra. There was a goal in each half from Michael Awuah and Hamza Issah to ensure the points for Hearts. Ghana’s league was halted after the shock killing of a Asante Kotoko supporter led to a security review of all venues used by top flight clubs.
TUNISIA
Champions Esperance were held to a surprise draw at home by Ben Guerdane on Saturday to see their four point lead cut by half with Monastir jumping up into second place in Ligue 1 after success on Sunday against Olympique Beja. Esperance and Monastir finished first and second last season and are again in pole position for slots in next season’s Total Energies CAF Champions League after Etoile Sahel slipped to third. Esperance were handed a last gasp penalty, converted by Algerian import Youcef Belaili to draw 1-1 with relegation-threatened Ben Guerdane, who had gone ahead after 14 minutes through Iyed Belwafi. Top scorer Hazem Mastouri scored his 14th goal of the league season as Monastir won 1-0 at home. Etoile Sahel were surprise losers to Zarzis in Sousse on Sunday as Seifeddine Sabeur netted the game’s only goal just before halftime. Etoile stayed on 48 points with Monastir up to 50 and Esperance leading on 52. At the bottom Tataouine picked up a home point as they held CS Sfaxien to a goalless draw on Saturday and moved up alongside EGS Gafsa, whose two-match winning streak ended with a 2-1 loss at Stade Tunisien on Sunday.
SEYCHELLES
With two rounds to play in the Premier League, the title aspirations of three clubs remain alive with Anse Reunion (35 points), Cote d’Or (34) and Light Stars (30) all chasing the championship. The trio all drew at the weekend with leaders Anse Reunion scoring two minutes from time to force a 1-1 draw at Real Maldive at Stade Linite on Friday. There was even more dramatic escape for Cote d’Or in their 3-3 home draw on Friday at Amitie Stadium as they netted their equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game. Light Stars played out a 2-2 draw with St Louis at Amitie Stadium on Saturday.
ANGOLA
Victory for Petro Atletico saw the GiraBola champions extend their lead to five points after second placed Wiliete were held to a draw at the weekend. Petro won 3-1 over struggling Luanda City on Sunday, one day after Wiliete were held 1-1 by Bravos do Maquis in Luena. Petro, who had to come back from a half-time deficit, advanced to 50 points with 10 matches left to compete the season. Primeiro Agosto are third on 38 points after a goalless draw with Academica Lobito in Luanda on Sunday.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Malabo United lead the Insular Region section of the Primera Division while Desportivo Mongomo are top of the Continental Region section with the top three teams in each section meeting in the end of the season title-deciding playoffs. Malabo United have a two-point advantage over Cano Sport Academy while Mongomo are one point ahead of 15 de Agosto.