Sports
Can Medeama tame Heart of Lions?
The 2024/25 Ghana Premier League (GPL) reaches week five this weekend with intriguing clashes across the various centres.
The action spot would surely be the Tarkwa and Abosso (T&A) Stadium where highflying league leaders, Medeama SC, engages Kpando Heart of Lions today at 6pm local time.
Medeama is currently enjoying a perfect run and seem to be working towards the vow to return to Africa club competition by winning the league.
That appear to have been bolstered by the fact that they have one of the finest venues in the competition and pushed a vibrant supporter’s wing.
At home, they look good to maintain their good run against the Kpando side who have also given a good account of themselves so far.
It may look like a clash of equals but the Mauves and Yellows possess more firepower to end up victors.
Following from tomorrow, Asante Kotoko would return to their adopted Len Clay Stadium base in Obuasi to welcome Accra Lions.
Kotoko have performed creditably so far and would hope to annex the maximum points after dropping points against Berekum Chelsea last week.
But against a resurgent Accra Lions, who recorded their first win last week, it will be a tall mountain to climb.
Karela United will welcome defending champions, FC Samartex 1996, to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale, what also promises to be full of fireworks.
At the Nana Konamansah Park at Nsuatre tomorrow, Nsoatreman FC will host Legon Cities in a battle the host would use to redeem themselves after losing 3-1 to Accra Lions in the previous week.
The GoldStars FC versus Bechem United game at the Duns Park in Bibiani will be expected to be full of fireworks just as Berekum Chelsea engagement with Young Apostles FC at the Golden City Park.
Winless Dreams FC will maintain the hunt for a first win when they play Nations FC at their adopted Tuba Astro turf while the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports complex in Tema host the battle of the GPL debutants, Vision FC and Basake Holy Stars.
Hearts of Oak and Aduana Stars opened the weekend’s round of matches yesterday at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra, yesterday.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Otto Addo names 23-man squad for Chad and Madagascar 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has named a 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
The team, led by captain Jordan Ayew includes three home-based players: Benjamin Asare of Accra Hearts of Oak, Kamaradini Mamudu of Medeama SC and Razak Simpson of Nations FC.
Deputy captain and Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey returns to the squad after missing four of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last year. With over 50 appearances for Ghana since his debut in June 2016, Partey brings valuable experience to the team.
Other notable inclusions are Kamal Deen Sulemana of Southampton FC and Jerry Afriyie of CD Lugo. Sulemana has regained full fitness after a lengthy injury layoff, while Afriyie retains his spot after impressing in the match against Niger in November last year.
Belgium-based Christopher Bonsu Baah, who plays for Genk, has also received an invitation. The left-footed right-winger, capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, began his career with Accra Shooting Stars before joining Norwegian side Sarpsborg 08 and later Genk in July 2023.
The team will assemble on Monday, March 17, 2025, and train for four days before hosting Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, 2025. The Black Stars will then travel to Morocco to face Madagascar in another Group I match on Monday, March 24, 2025.
Ghana are currently second in Group I with nine points from four matches after securing three wins and one defeat, leveling them with Comoros.
Ghana’s qualifying campaign began with a 1-0 win over Madagascar, followed by a loss to Comoros. They bounced back with consecutive victories over Mali and the Central African Republic in June last year to keep their chances of qualification intact.
Below is the full Squad:
Sports
Twelve players left out of Black Stars squad due to injury
Twelve players could not make the Black Stars squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to injuries.
They include Alidu Seidu, Tariq Lamptey, Brandon Thomas Asante, Abdul Mumin, Joseph Aidoo, Abdul Manaf Nuruudeen, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Baba Idrissu, Ibrahim Sulemana, Daniel Kofi Kyereh, Majeed Ashimeru, and Joseph Painstil.
The injury details are as follows:
Alidu Seidu (Anterior Cruciate Ligament – Rehab), Tariq Lamptey (Ankle Ligament Injury), Brandon Thomas Asante (Muscle Tear), Abdul Mumin (Anterior Crucial Ligament), Joseph Aidoo (Muscle), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Ankle), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Anterior Cruciate Ligament – Recovering), Baba Idrissu (Recovering), Ibrahim Sulemana (Adductor Tendonitis), Daniel Kofi Kyereh (Knee), Majeed Ashimeru (Rebuilding from injury – Needs time to fully recover), Joseph Painstil (Quadriceps)
