Sports
Kotoko, Hearts face tricky FA Cup ties
Nine-time FA Cup champions and current holders – Kumasi Asante Kotoko, have sworn to win this year’s competition to compensate their fans for their failure to win the Ghana Premier League (GPL) this season.
The Porcupine Warriors watched in pain as their bitter rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak, clinched the premiership title with a game to spare.
As the quarter final matches of the MTN FA Cupcompetition commence this weekend across all four match venues, expect Kotoko to produce a comprehensive result when they welcome the 2010 semi-finalist Berekum Chelsea to the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium on Sunday.
Billed to be a very ferocious contest, Kotoko will leave no stone overturned as the competition represents the only chance to win a trophy and also book a spot in the nextAfrican Confederations Cup.
Ten-time champions, Accra Hearts of Oak, will travel to face a dicey task with Elmina Sharks at the Nduom stadium today as the Phobians are eager to clinch a double.
Having escaped the drop by a hair’s breadth, the Sharks now look motivated to crush everything in sight – though Hearts can be a rugged undertaking.
Twice winners Medeama SC will tussle it out with tricky second-tier side Attram de Visser Soccer Academy at Akoon Park on Sunday.Having kicked out Okwahu United and Legon Cities on penalties, the Kasoa-basedside will be aiming to cause same havoc to Medeama.
AshantiGold SC will lock horns with lower-tier side Kintampo Top Talent at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium this afternoon as they battle for a spot in the semis.
BY 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)
