Sports
Hearts will clear Wydad hurdle-Coach Boadu
Head Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Samuel Boadu, has called on the club’s teeming supporters to have belief in the team’s ability to qualify to the league stage of the CAF Champions League competition.
Coach Boadu said it was too early to give up hope on qualification because of the slim win recorded in the first leg encounter on home soil.
Hearts put up a spirited performance on Sunday against North Africa opposition,Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco but churned out 1-0 win over the 2019 winners.
That appears to have forced a section of fans to throw hands in despair, knowing how unfriendly the North African terrain, especially in circumstances of this nature, can be.
But reacting in a post-match presser,Coach Boadu expressed the belief that although the score-line was not what they envisaged, they have what it takes to qualify in faraway Morocco this weekend.
“Our supporters should not give up. We should be guided by our’Never Say Die’ motto. That must spur us on as we move to that dangerous territory. Others might have gone there and not survive but this is Hearts of Oak. We have the men to do this job.”
According to him, a few of his players played with injuries, which also did not help their course.
“Raddy Ovouka’s substitution was as a result of some earlier pains he had, and his withdrawal, coupled with injuries to Caleb Amankwah, Emmanuel Nettey, Ibrahim Salifu among others, affected our play.”
According to him, they have a few days to work on the fitness of these players and hoped thatthe team doctors and physiotherapists work hard to get them fit for the Casablanca tie.
He said having watched the Moroccans,Hearts have an idea about the opposition, and would pick the positives from the game and build upon it ahead of Sunday’s fixture to be played at the King Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
Sports
President John Dramani Mahama visits Black Stars
President John Dramani Mahama showed his support for the Black Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday, ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
He was accompanied by several key figures, including Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddi Adams, Ghana Football Association President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, Executive Council member and Black Stars Management Committee Chairman Dr. Randy Abbey, National Sports Authority Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and former Ghana captains Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan.
Others included Management Committee members Samuel Aboabire (Chairman of the Greater Accra Football Association, Executive Council Member) and Moses Armah (Owner of Premier League side Medeama SC).
During his visit, President Mahama encouraged the players to make Ghana proud by giving their best and showcasing their skills on the international stage.
He also emphasized the importance of discipline, hard work, and unity, noting that these values are essential for achieving success in football and beyond.
The Black Stars are set to face Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, before traveling to Morocco to play Madagascar on Monday, March 24, 2025.
President Mahama’s visit aimed to boost the team’s morale and motivation ahead of these crucial matches.
Sports
Black Stars intensify preparations ahead of Chad, Madagascar Clashes
Ghana’s Black Stars continued their preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers with an intense third-day training session in Accra.
The team is gearing up for crucial Group I clashes against Chad and Madagascar.
With Ghana currently third in Group I after Madagascar’s win over Central African Republic, these matches are vital for Ghana’s World Cup qualification bid.
The training session saw the players engage in rigorous fieldwork, including shooting drills, passing exercises, and stretching.
The goalkeepers also had a separate session, working on their reflexes and shot-stopping.
The Black Stars will host Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, before traveling to face Madagascar on March 24.
Below are photos of Wednesday’s training session:
