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Hearts, Aduana set to boot opening game

The first round of matches in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) ended on Monday evening at the Accra Sports Stadium where Inter Allies and Dreams FC battled to a frenetic stalemate.

After eight games, seven draws were recorded with one win going in favour of the West African Soccer Academy (WAFA) where they snatched a 4-3 win over King Faisal at home.

Hearts of Oak were scheduled to play away to Aduana Stars in Dormaa last Saturday, but the tie was called off due to some of their players testing positive for COVID-19.

However, the excitement continues as the second round of games resumed yesterday. But the game to keep an eye on will be the Hearts v AshGold tie on Tuesday at the Accra Sports Stadium and the Berekum Chelsea-Kotoko thriller.

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Two games were expected to kick off yesterday with another today and the remaining five on Sunday.

The Phobians will seek to begin their campaign on a good note against the Miners this weekend. In  their first game, AshGold surrendered a 2-1 lead only for Karela to draw level in the dying embers of the afternoon.

Eleven Wonders will kick-start the second round of matches with late kick off on Friday (yesterday) in Techiman where they host Ebusua Dwarfs in a very cagey affair.

The Wonders snatched a well deserved point against Kotoko last Sunday and will be looking forward to amass three points against a very tricky Ebusua Dwarfs who drew 2-2 with rivals Elmina Sharks in the Fante-derby.

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Olympics will climax the last game on Friday with a late kick off at the Accra Sports Stadium where they take on Legon Cities in the regional derby. The Dade boys pulled the surprise on match day one after they snatched a deserved point against title contenders Medeama SC in Tarkwa. A very disappointing result for coach Samuel Boadu and his charges.

The train will then land in Bechem today where Bechem United invite WAFA to the Bechem Park at 15:00 GMT.

The Bechem boys will have a hard nut to crack against WAFA as the latter seek to make it six points in two games after defeating King Faisal 4-3 last weekend, while United also look to pick up their first win of the campaign.

Very comfortable at the Crosby Awuah Stadium in Anyinase, Karela will face off with Inter Alllies on Sunday afternoon. Both sides have snatched a point each in their first games and will be looking forward to their first three points in a cracking affair.

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Liberty Professionals will travel to Elmina where they square off with the Sharks at the Papa Kwesi Nduom Stadium. Sharks were forced to share the spoils with Dwarfs in a late goal from goalkeeper Issa Razak in a 2-2 draw and will be looking forward to make amends on match day two.

Liberty also saw a late goal from Bechem United in Dansoman where points were split in a 1-1 draw.

The Theatre of Dreams in Dawu will be centre of attraction when Dreams play against Medeama SC on Sunday afternoon. Medeama were stunned when they shared spoils with Olympics in their opener, while Dreams who looked favorites last Monday against Inter Allies were held to a goalless draw. The ‘Still Believe’ lads could surprise the Tarkwa-based side.

Chelsea travel back to the Golden City Park on Sunday with a point after they were held to a 1-1 draw with Legon Cities. With the shocker of a result against Eleven Wonders last Sunday, Kotoko will come gun blazing against Chelsea.

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Coach Maxwell Konadu will miss the services of midfielder Latif Anabilla which could be a big blow to him.

The Porcupine Warriors will have to give their all to grab a win against a Chelsea side without the services of reliable centre-backs Zakaria Fuseini, Ahmed Adams and Jonah Attuquaye but looked poised for the kill with the likes of Stephen Amankona, Kofi Owusu and arrival of ‘experienced’ centre-back Edward Kpodo.

King Faisal will climax the second round of games in their crucial game with Aduana Stars who are yet to kick a ball in the Ghana Premier League.

Despite a series of poor results last season, King Faisal began their 2020/21 scoring three goals but conceded four against Sogakope-based WAFA last Sunday.

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Having already warmed themselves into the league, the ‘Insha Allah’ boys will look forward to startling the Dormaa-based side who were tipped to win the ultimate before the league was truncated and the backline will have to deal with bulky and tough forward Yahaya Mohammed who bagged 11 goals in 15 games for Aduana Stars last season.

BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY

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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.

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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: 

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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)

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