Sports
Some sanity in DOL!
The National Division One League (DOL) will roll out this weekend with matches across several centres nationwide.
Starting almost a month after the Ghana Premier League (GPL), it is expected to create a festival atmosphere which fans in every corner of the country would be part of.
The demotion of Accra Great Olympics among two others to the division last season is expected to heighten coverage and attention for the competition.
Apart from the Wonder Club, there are a number of former Premier League clubs that are campaigning for returns to the elite league.
The likes of Okwahu United, New Edubiase, Real Tamale United, Bofoakwa Tano and many others readily comes to mind.
Though they may be in different regions or zones, they would still make a number of high profile matches that would attract fans to their respective venues.
Despite the excitement it generates, the DOL has been branded as the ‘wilderness’ of Ghana football due to some negative factors associated with it.
Reports of vandalism, attacks on visiting teams, bad officiating leading to chaotic scenes, bad pitches and others have been usually associated.
With such issues, the DOL must be lucky to have courted Access Bank as headline sponsors for the competition.
This is because very few corporate institutions would want to be associated to product that attract such negative reports.
With a new season set to commence, the DOL Board and other stakeholders must be seen to be taking decisions to tackle some of these issues.
The Football Association seem to be doing well in this regard with the organisation of workshops for Venue Media Officers (VMOs), Match Commissioners (MCs) and others that play key roles in ensuring an incident-free season.
These workshops would refresh their memories on amendments to the Laws of the game, Integrity, the Competition Management System (CMS), Report Writing, the Role of the modern Match Commissioner and how to conduct successful technical meetings.
In all of these, officiating is very key. A poor performance from a referee can throw any preparation out of gear so the FA’s focus must be on the referees and their assistants.
They are usually the victims of the mayhem caused by their own actions on the field.
The FA must ensure that their needs are met on time for them to operate very independent while also dealing drastically with people that falls foul of the law.
In that way, there can be sanity in DOL.
By Andrew Nortey
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)
