Sports
Premier League:Gold Stars FC storm to top; Kotoko smash Vison; Hearts of Lions shocked at home
Gold Stars FC stormed to the top of the Premier League with a sensational 3-0 win at Accra Lions on Sunday January 19, 2025.
The visitors were at their very best as they run riot against the struggling Premier League side to leapfrog Heart of Lions at the top of the table.
Samuel Attah Kumi bagged a remarkable hat-trick to hand the Miners their biggest away win of the season and their 9th in total so far this term. He scored in the 14th, 44th and 46th minute as the visitors recorded the heavy win at the WAF Park in Sogakope.
Kwame Opoku bagged a brace for Asante Kotoko as they thumped Vision FC 4-1 to move within touching distance of leaders Gold Stars FC.
Opoku opened the scoring as early as the 6th minute before Nana Akwesi Amoah pulled parity for the visitors in the 22nd minute.
Peter Amidu restored Kotoko’s lead with the second goal before Kwame Opoku added the third in the 37th minute. Saaka Dauda completed the rout with the fourth goal in the 44th minute.
Kotoko are now third with 31 points, just two adrift of leaders Bibiani Gold Stars FC. Vision FC lie 11th in the table with 19 points.
Defending champions FC Samartex 1996 drew goalless with Hearts of Oak at home on Sunday.
The two teams failed to break each other down as they shared the points at the Nsenkyire Arena.
Hearts have dropped to 5th while Samartex find themselves in mid-table.
Nations FC dented Heart of Lions’ Premier League title charge after recording a 1-0 win at the Kpando Stadium.
Di Boris Djangone scored the decisive goal in the 82nd minute to separate the two teams. This is Lions’ first defeat at home this season as they are leapfrogged at the top by Gold Stars FC.
Heart of Lions have slipped to fourth while Nations jump to second in the Premier League table.
Eric Osei Bonsu scored from the spot to give Nsoatreman FC a vital 1-0 win over Karela United at home on Sunday.
Osei Bonsu scored the decisive goal in the 52nd minute to give Yaw Preko’s side a respite after a turbulent 2024-25 campaign.
Karela United have dropped into the bottom three while Nsoatreman have jumped to 12th in the league table.
Berekum Chelsea left it late to record a 2-1 win over Medeama SC in a dramatic Premier League game on Sunday.
Stephen Amankona opened the scoring for the home side in the first half before Yussif Mubarik pulled parity for the visitors through the spot kick six minute into injury time.
However, captain Zackaria Fuseini stole the headlines when he scored the winner with the last kick of the ball.
Basake Holy Stars shared the spoils with Aduana FC in an entertaining 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Fire Club went ahead in the first half before Bismark Teye pulled parity in the 86th minute at the Ampain AAK Arena.
Legon Cities thrashed Dreams FC 3-0 at home on Sunday to continue their push for survival.
Goals from Fredrick Akatuk, Frank Akoto and Kabu Agyemang Raymond condemned Dreams to their 7th defeat of the season.
The Royals remain in the bottom three while Dreams FC are just above the drop zone.
Bechem United continued their fine performances in the Premier League with a solid 0-0 stalemate at Young Apostles in the Bono derby on Sunday.
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:
