The mining city of Tarkwa erupted into joyous celebrations as Medeama SC won the 2022/23 betPawa Premier League with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Tamale City at the Akoon Park.
When Referee Eric Owusu Peprah’s signalled for the end of the match, players, officials and supporters of the home side went into delirium to celebrate their biggest moment in Ghana football as the club earned the right to dine at the high table of Ghana football as one of the 11 clubs (excluding the defunct Real Republicans) to win the league title.
It was an afternoon of mixed feelings as defeat also condemned the Tamale lads to suffer demotion after a season in the topflight. They join Kotoku Royals and King Faisal as the bottom three sides relegated to the Division One League.
Medeama went into the match knowing that a draw would secure a win but they approached the match with all guns blazing as their opponents needed a win to survive relegation and possibly change the destination of the league trophy in favour of title rivals, Bechem United. However, Bechem lost 0-1 to Aduana Stars at Dormaa-Ahenko and finished in third position behind Aduana and six points off the newly-crowned champions, who finished the league with 60 points from 34 matches.
The packed stadium was in expectant mood and Coach Evans Adotey’s side were in no charity mood as they took an early lead when Joshua Agyemang got to the end of Kwadwo Amoako’s cross from the right and flicked the ball past Tamale City goalkeeper, Cisse Tijani, to open the floodgates.
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Sensing danger ahead, the visiting side raised their game but could not get decent scoring chances as the Medeama lads ensured a water-tight defence to ward off any threat.
Late into the game, the home side changed into fourth gear and scored two quick fire goals by Jonathan Sowah to secure victory and an historic title on home soil.
In the 67th minute, Sowah out jumped his markers to head home a well taken corner kick by Theophilus Anoba to put his side in the driving seat with a 2-0 cushion.
In celebrating the goal, he excitedly ran across the field and dived on the pitch, setting the fans into a party mood as they saw the championship victory minutes away.
Nine minutes later, Sowah again sent the crowd into wild jubilation when he scored a goal of supreme quality. He initiated a two-man move with midfielder, Derrick Fordjour, who returned the pass to the tall striker who created space for himself before unleashing a long range shot into the roof of the net to ensure a 3-0 victory, a 10th straight home win and an historic championship triumph.
Later the Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Simeon-Okraku, assisted by officials of the FA and some corporate partners, presented the league trophy to Medeama captain, Kwasi Donsu, and championship medals to the players and technical handlers of the newly-crowned champions.
