Sports
Justice Blay scores winner as Kotoko climb top; Legon Cities leap out of relegation zone as Hearts drop points
Asante Kotoko climbed to the top of the Premier League with a hard fought 1-0 win over Karela United at home on Sunday.
The hosts scored the only goal through midfielder Justice Blay. Blay scored from the spot kick in the 63rd minute to separate the two teams at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Dr Prosper Nartey Ogum will be pleased to return to the top of the table despite a less vintage performance against the Pride and Passion.
Kotoko have leapfrogged Gold Stars FC at the top with 34 points from 18 matches and looks to be in cruise control in their Premier League title ambition.
FC Samartex 1996 dropped valuable points at home after drawing 1-1 against Dreams FC on Sunday.
Alhassan Mankuyali Mohammed opened the scoring for the home side in the 48th minute before Joseph Esso pulled parity for the visitors at the Nsenkyire Stadium.
This is a massive result for the visitors who have struggled for form since the start of the season.
Despite the vital point on the road, Dreams gave dropped to the bottom three while lie 10th with 23 points.
Young Apostles recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Nsoatreman FC to triumph in the Bono derby on Sunday.
Emmanuel Fosu Kyei grabbed the headlines with the solitary goal of the match at the Wenchi Stadium. He scored 10 minutes into the second half to hand the side their fifth win of the season.
Apostles lie 11th with 21 points while Nsoatreman find themselves in the 14th position with 18 points from 18 games.
Basake Holy Stars forced out a goalless draw against Hearts of Oak in an exciting Premier League match at home on Sunday.
The Phobians failed to break a resolute Holy Stars down as the two teams shared the spoils at the AAK II Sports Arena.
Hearts, fifth in the table, trail leaders Asante Kotoko by four points with 30 points.
Berekum Chelsea recorded a second successive home win after a 1-0 success over Vision FC.
Emmanuel Sarpong’s 25th minute strike separated the two teams at the Golden City Park in Berekum.
Chelsea find themselves in eight position with 25 points while Vision lie 12th with 19 points.
Bechem United continued their impressive run of form after a decisive 2-0 win over Nations FC at home on Sunday.
A goal in each half helped the Hunters to the deserved victory at the Nana Gyeabour Park.
United scored first through Isaiah Nyarko in the 27th minute before Emmanuel Abban added the second in the 84th minute.
Nations have dropped to 4th while Bechem United lie 6th with 30 points.
Hearts of Lions returned to winning ways after a 2-1 with over Aduana FC on Sunday.
Kwesi Pong opened the scoring for Lions before Seedorf Asante made it 2-0 at the Kpando Stadium.
However, Akwasi Asante pulled a goal back for the visitors as they suffered their sixth defeat of the season.
Lions remain in third place with 33 points, while Aduana lie 13th with 18 points.
Legon Cities climbed above the relegation zone after a hard fought 1-0 win over Gold Stars FC at home on Sunday.
Fredrick Akatuk scored the only goal of the match in the 51st minute to lift the Royals just above the drop zone.
Yaw Acheampong’s men are determined to avoid the drop after an unflattering 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
The Royals lie above Dreams FC in 15th position while Gold Stars remain in second place.
Sports
CAF releases draw procedure for TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Cote D’Ivoire 2025
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the draw procedure for the 2025 TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana will join 12 other countries for the biennial youth tournament, scheduled to take place in Cote D’Ivoire from April 26 to May 18, 2025.
The participating teams include Egypt and Morocco from North Africa, holders Senegal and Sierra Leone from WAFU A, Nigeria, Ghana, and host Cote d’Ivoire from WAFU B, Tanzania and Kenya from CECAFA, South Africa and Zambia from COSAFA, and DR Congo from Central Africa.
The 13 teams will be distributed into three groups: one group of five teams (A) and two groups of four teams (B and C).
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout stages, along with the two best third-placed teams.
The ranking of the third-placed teams will be determined after removing the results of the team ranked fifth in Group A.
The knockout stages will consist of the quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, and final.
RANKING:
Senegal – Winner in 2023
Nigeria – Third place in 2023
Congo – Second in group stage
Egypt – Third in group stage
Zambia – Fourth in group stage
Note: The remaining teams did not qualify.
Cote d’Ivoire, the host, will occupy position A1.
Senegal, the holder of the title from the 2023 edition, will occupy position C1, while Nigeria, the third-placed team in 2023, will occupy position B1.
Congo, Egypt, and Zambia, the next best-ranked teams from the 2023 edition, will be in level 2.
DRAW PROCEDURES:
In level 1, Cote d’Ivoire will occupy position A1, Nigeria will occupy position B1, and Senegal will occupy position C1.
Five pots will be used for the draw:
Pot 1: The teams in level 2 (Congo, Egypt, and Zambia)
Pot 2: The remaining seven teams (Ghana, RD Congo, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania)
Pot 3: Positions A2, B2, and C2
Pot 4: Positions A3, B3, and C3
Pot 5: Positions A4, B4, and C4
The teams in level 2 will be drawn into positions A2, B2, and C2. The remaining teams will be drawn into positions A3, B3, C3, A4, B4, and C4. The remaining team will automatically occupy position A5.
Ghana last won the title in 2021, defeating Uganda 2-0 in the final in
Sports
Hohoe United stage massive comeback in 3-2 win against Akatsi All Stars in Zone Three
League leaders Hohoe United came from behind to defeat Akatsi All Stars in a scintillating 3-2 victory at the Hohoe Sports Stadium on Sunday.
John Ocansey netted a brace in the 11th and 39th minute for Akatsi All Stars but Faruk Mohammed pulled one back from the spot in the 42nd minute for Hohoe United by halftime.
Djanfarou Mumuni made it 2-2 for Hohoe United in the 68th minute before William Oduro scored the winning goal for the home side in stoppage time. William Oduro of Hohoe United was named player of the match.
Kings Palaces 1-1 Great Olympics
Former Premier League side Great Olympics were held to a 1-1 draw at Kings Palaces on Sunday. Isaac Mensah scored first for Great Olympics in the third minute, while Atadana Edward Kwame leveled matters for Kings Palaces in the 49th minute. Great Olympics currently occupy the second position in the table with 32 points.
Home Stars 1-0 Okwawu United
Home Stars secured their third home victory this season, defeating former Premier League side Okwawu United 1-0 at the Ho Sports Stadium. Ronald Numenya’s early goal in the 7th minute sealed the win for Home Stars.
Results in Zone Three:
