Techiman Eleven Wonders have sealed a dramatic return to the Ghana Premier League after three years in the second tier, edging out Real Tamale United (RTU) 2-1 in a thrilling Division One League playoff final at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday.
In a high-stakes encounter filled with tension and drama, it was a stoppage-time penalty from Farouk Ameyaw that proved decisive, sparking jubilant celebrations among the travelling Techiman supporters.
Eleven Wonders got off to a flying start, dominating the early exchanges and taking a deserved lead in the 13th minute through Frank Awere, who calmly finished to put his side ahead. RTU, however, showed great resilience and fought their way back into the contest. Their persistence paid off in the 67th minute when they were awarded a penalty, which Blabala Bamon converted with composure to bring the score level.
With the match seemingly heading for extra time, late drama ensued in the dying moments. In the 90th minute, referee Selorm Yao awarded Eleven Wonders a penalty following a handball in the RTU box. Farouk Ameyaw stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to seal a memorable victory and promotion for his side.
The result marks a triumphant return to the top flight for Eleven Wonders, who were relegated at the end of the 2021/22 season. Ameyaw’s last-minute heroics have now etched his name in the club’s history as the man who fired Techiman back to Premier League football.
Both sides had topped their respective zones in the Access Bank Division One League, setting the stage for a fiercely contested playoff with a single promotion slot at stake. While Eleven Wonders now look forward to rejoining Ghana’s football elite, RTU will be left to regroup and mount another challenge in the second tier next season.
For Eleven Wonders, the road back to the top has been long and testing, but their perseverance paid off spectacularly under the Accra sun, as they proudly reclaim their place in the Ghana Premier League.
