Date: April 1, 2025
Venue: TnA Stadium, Tarkwa

Medeama Sporting Club delivered a dramatic 2-1 victory over regional rivals Basake Holy Stars in a pulsating Ghana Premier League Week 21 encounter at the TnA Stadium on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. A late strike from substitute Fordjour sealed the win, ensuring the Mauve and Yellow completed a league double over their neighbors in front of a spirited holiday crowd.

First Half: Early Promise Turns to Deficit

The match kicked off at 3:00 PM on a public holiday, with Medeama eager to capitalize on home support. The hosts started brightly, creating early chances through Kelvin Nkrumah and Michael Sarpong within the first eight minutes. Despite their dominance, Medeama couldn’t convert, and Basake Holy Stars stunned the TnA faithful in the 27th minute through Issah Yakubu. A swift move saw the visitors take a 1-0 lead, silencing the home crowd momentarily. Medeama responded with intent, and their pressure paid off just before halftime when Kamaradini Mamudu, fresh from Black Stars duty, leveled the score at 1-1 with a well-taken header from Emmanuel Owusu’s freekick. The teams went into the break deadlocked, setting up a tense second half.

Second Half: Fordjour’s Heroics Seal the Win

The second half resumed with both sides trading blows, as Medeama pushed to assert their home dominance. By the 50th minute, the score remained 1-1, with neither team able to break the deadlock. Coach Ibrahim Tanko rolled the dice in the 76th minute, bringing on Fordjour and Mantey for Richard and Godknows Dzakpasu to inject fresh legs into the attack. Experienced center back, Mubarik Yussif, who had been spotless with his penalty kicks since joining the Mauve and Yellows, missed from the spot 86 minutes into the game to send the Tarkwa side up. However, Coach Tanko’s substitutions proved inspired, as Medeama piled on the pressure. In the 89th minute, Fordjour emerged as the hero, latching onto a precise assist from attacker, Andy Kumi to fire home the winning goal to spark wild celebrations at the TnA Stadium. Basake fought until the end, but Medeama’s defense held firm to secure a 2-1 triumph.

Key Moments

• 27′: Basake Holy Stars take the lead with a clinical strike (0-1).
• 45′: Kamaradini Mamudu equalizes for Medeama before halftime (1-1).
• 76′: Substitutions—Fordjour and Mantey replace Richard and Dzakpasu.
• 86′: Mubarik Yussif misses a penalty to deny Medeama a lead
• 89′: Fordjour scores the decisive goal to clinch the win (2-1).

A Vital Victory

The win marks Medeama’s second victory over Basake this season, following their 2-1 triumph in the first round at Aiyinase CAM Park. It lifts the Mauve and Yellow to 4th position in the GPL standings with 38 points, bolstering our campaign after a mixed run of results.

Coach Ibrahim Tanko hailed the team’s resilience: “We showed character to come from behind on our home turf. The boys never gave up, and the fans were incredible. This win sets us up nicely for our next fixture away to Accra Hearts of Oak.”