Sports
Hearts, Kotoko, Oly, Karela poised for second round action
After close to a month’s break, the Ghana Premier League (GPL) will resume tomorrow with other thrilling fixtures across the venues taking place at the weekend.
Tomorrow’s encounter will see second-placed Accra Great Olympics, led by star player and captain, Gladson Awako, welcome Medeama SC to the Accra stadium, expecting to garner the maximum points
On Sunday, third-placed Hearts of Oak will play host to seventh-placed Aduana Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium in a late kick-off (6pm). The Phobians crashed 2-0 when they last visited Dormaa in December and will be eager to make amends.
The visitors will have a daunting task as they have also augmented their squad but will also miss the services of dependable centre-back Caleb Amankwah, Paul Aidoo, Justice Anane and a few others.
Kotoko will have a stiff contest when they travel to Techiman on Saturday to face Eleven Wonders. It will be the first test for new gaffer Mariano Barreto who is expected to stir the affairs of the club after agreeing a year-and-half deal with the Porcupine Warriors.
With a game at hand against Bechem United, Kotoko will be eager to begin the second round on a good note as new signings Andy Kumi, Solomon Sarfo Taylor and Brazilian import Michael Vinicius will be hoping to make an impact with the club eager to win the ultimate.
Wonders, on the other hand, will miss the services of talisman Salifu Ibrahim who left to join Hearts before the end of the first round. Coach Ignatius Ofosu and his charges might want to defy all odds to silence the visitors at their home ground.
League leaders Karela United will welcome AshantiGold SC to the CAM Park in a cracking affair as the leaders go all out to continue their fine form against the Miners who dropped from title-contending slot to fall in mid-table position. It will be the first test for Ashgold’s new gaffer Romain Folz, who replaced the ailing Milovan Cirkovic.
At the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu, high-flying Dreams will square off with struggling Inter Allies on Sunday.
Allies will be counting on returnee Gockel Ahortor, and Samuel Armah who had a short spell in Albania and returned to grab his first goal for his side in their 1-2 defeat to Aduana Stars on match day 16 in Dormaa.
King Faisal are ready to prove a point when they welcome WAFA SC to the Nana Agyemang Park in Techiman.
Being the busiest in the just-ended transfer market, the ‘Insha Allah’ boys have added close to 10 players ahead of the second round but will also have Kasim Gokyildiz as the new coach after parting ways with Andy Sinason.
Poor performing Liberty Professionals will travel to the Nana Gyebour Park in Bechem to face Bechem United on Sunday.
At the Ndoum Park in Elmina on Sunday, Sharks will welcome tricky Ebusua Dwarfs in a very cagey encounter.
Two struggling sides: Twelfth-placed Berekum Chelsea will square off with 15th-placed Legon Cities at the Golden City Park.
LINUS SIAW NARTEY
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)
