Sports
Kotoko target Hearts scalps in redemption mission
● Gladson Awako – Hearts
The two giants of Ghana football – Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak will lighten up this season’s betPawa Ghana Premier League with ‘the clash of the titans’ at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow.
The Super Clash will serve as a huge defining moment for the hosts who would be desperate for a win to appease their fans for their fallout at the CAF Champions League campaign.
Kotoko were eliminated from the preliminary stages of the CAF Champions League after losing 3-1 on penalties to RC Kadiogo from Burkina Faso. The sad defeat aroused tension among supporters with many questioning the commitment of players as well as calling for the head of the management including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nana Yaw Amponsah.
However, a win against arch rivals Hearts could calm tempers and perhaps provide some great deal of serenity within the Kotoko fraternity.
Kotoko’s fate lies in their own hands as they go into the game with huge pressure on their shoulders as they attempt to give their supporters something to cheer about.
Meanwhile, Hearts would be determined to deepen the woes of their rivals and also get their campaign on the right path.
Hearts are yet to secure a win after two opening matches with a defeat and a draw and getting a win at the expense of their arch rivals would be a huge boost.
Despite the absence of their talisman, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, who is on international assignment with the Black Stars, Hearts could boost of the likes of Gladson Awako, Mohammed Alhassan and Kojo Junior Obeng to torment their arch rivals.
In other week three fixtures tomorrow, Karela will face off with Dreams FC at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park, while the Cape Coast Sport Stadium would see newly-promoted Kotoku Royals and Nsoatreman FC battling it out.
At Dormaa, Aduana Stars will battle it out with Samartex in a very cagey encounter, while Babiani Gold Stars square off with Bechem United at the Bibiani Park.
At the Tamale Stadium, Real Tamale United (RTU) would engage Legon Cities with the last fixture for the week between Berekum Chelsea and Medeama scheduled for Monday at Dormaa – following the rejection of the Golden City Park by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Accra Great Olympics and King Faisal will begin weekend lineup of exciting fixtures with a mouthwatering clash at the Accra Sports Stadium today.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
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)
