Ghana Premier League: Rating the relegation candidates

As the 2015-16 Ghana Premier League season nears its conclusion, the ‘race’ for relegation looks set to go down to the wire, with at least six clubs still battling for survival with three matches to play.

The multitude of ‘contenders’ near the foot of the table comes in contrast to the title race, where Aduana Stars chase Wa All Stars unabated.

But which two strugglers will lose out and drop into the second tier alongside already-relegated Edubiase United?

Which of Techiman City, Liberty Professionals, Sekondi Hasaacas, Inter Allies, Berekum Chelsea and Ebusua Dwarfs will be left disappointed after these tense final days of the season?

Debutants Techiman City were among the top six clubs on the log after the first part of the campaign, but after a swift decline, they now seem likely to return to the second-tier.

They have lit up the league with the media hype they’ve created as club president Charles Kwadwo Ntim was once a journalist, but with a tricky away trip to Nana Agyemang Badu Park against title hopefuls Aduana, Techiman must double their efforts to stand a chance of picking even a point.

After this, they host Sekondi Hasaacas, who lie one place below them, and this provides an excellent opportunity to condemn the visitors and save themselves.

Moreover, they also have an ongoing case against Edubiase which could help them add three points to their tally after the latter allegedly fielded an unqualified player in Prince Antwi.

Next are Inter Allies.

The Tema-based side sacked coach Herbert Addo midway through the campaign and have moved out of the relegation zone for the first time in almost five months thanks to the 4-0 drubbing of Edubiase on Sunday.

However, they're still tied on same points with Techiman and have dates with Dreams FC away, Liberty at home and Aduana in Dormaa.

Apart from the game against Liberty, one can easily predict that Allies will drop points against Wafa and Aduana, and such results will likely see them going down. Many clubs have failed to grind out results at the Wafa Park in Sogakope, including giants Asante Kotoko and Hearts, with the Academy Boys winning 10 and drawing four of 14 home games so far.

They remain the only club yet to suffer defeat at home, and with Aduana chasing All Stars for the trophy, a big task awaits Allies.

This article would not be complete without mention of Liberty Professionals, even though they did pick up a crucial point against Techiman on Sunday.

They are still on 32 points, one point above safety, but considering their inconsistencies this term, one cannot yet declare them safe, even if they have two home games still to play.

The squad and management give the impression that they believe the draw with Techiman will be enough to see them through, but complacency could be a killer and they must prove that they can continue their form and take points from their coming fixtures.

Hasaacas have it the toughest, knowing that they need both rivals to slip up to survive. The Western giants will be ruing their inept display at home last week which saw them share the spoils 1-1 with Kotoko.

Before I bow out, this writer picks Allies and Hasaacas as the two unfortunate clubs to join Edubiase for the drop.

Comment below and let us know who you’re expecting to plunge into the second tier at the season’s end.