Sports
Hearts, Aduana set to boot opening game
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The first round of matches in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) ended on Monday evening at the Accra Sports Stadium where Inter Allies and Dreams FC battled to a frenetic stalemate.
After eight games, seven draws were recorded with one win going in favour of the West African Soccer Academy (WAFA) where they snatched a 4-3 win over King Faisal at home.
Hearts of Oak were scheduled to play away to Aduana Stars in Dormaa last Saturday, but the tie was called off due to some of their players testing positive for COVID-19.
However, the excitement continues as the second round of games resumed yesterday. But the game to keep an eye on will be the Hearts v AshGold tie on Tuesday at the Accra Sports Stadium and the Berekum Chelsea-Kotoko thriller.
Two games were expected to kick off yesterday with another today and the remaining five on Sunday.
The Phobians will seek to begin their campaign on a good note against the Miners this weekend. In their first game, AshGold surrendered a 2-1 lead only for Karela to draw level in the dying embers of the afternoon.
Eleven Wonders will kick-start the second round of matches with late kick off on Friday (yesterday) in Techiman where they host Ebusua Dwarfs in a very cagey affair.
The Wonders snatched a well deserved point against Kotoko last Sunday and will be looking forward to amass three points against a very tricky Ebusua Dwarfs who drew 2-2 with rivals Elmina Sharks in the Fante-derby.
Olympics will climax the last game on Friday with a late kick off at the Accra Sports Stadium where they take on Legon Cities in the regional derby. The Dade boys pulled the surprise on match day one after they snatched a deserved point against title contenders Medeama SC in Tarkwa. A very disappointing result for coach Samuel Boadu and his charges.
The train will then land in Bechem today where Bechem United invite WAFA to the Bechem Park at 15:00 GMT.
The Bechem boys will have a hard nut to crack against WAFA as the latter seek to make it six points in two games after defeating King Faisal 4-3 last weekend, while United also look to pick up their first win of the campaign.
Very comfortable at the Crosby Awuah Stadium in Anyinase, Karela will face off with Inter Alllies on Sunday afternoon. Both sides have snatched a point each in their first games and will be looking forward to their first three points in a cracking affair.
Liberty Professionals will travel to Elmina where they square off with the Sharks at the Papa Kwesi Nduom Stadium. Sharks were forced to share the spoils with Dwarfs in a late goal from goalkeeper Issa Razak in a 2-2 draw and will be looking forward to make amends on match day two.
Liberty also saw a late goal from Bechem United in Dansoman where points were split in a 1-1 draw.
The Theatre of Dreams in Dawu will be centre of attraction when Dreams play against Medeama SC on Sunday afternoon. Medeama were stunned when they shared spoils with Olympics in their opener, while Dreams who looked favorites last Monday against Inter Allies were held to a goalless draw. The ‘Still Believe’ lads could surprise the Tarkwa-based side.
Chelsea travel back to the Golden City Park on Sunday with a point after they were held to a 1-1 draw with Legon Cities. With the shocker of a result against Eleven Wonders last Sunday, Kotoko will come gun blazing against Chelsea.
Coach Maxwell Konadu will miss the services of midfielder Latif Anabilla which could be a big blow to him.
The Porcupine Warriors will have to give their all to grab a win against a Chelsea side without the services of reliable centre-backs Zakaria Fuseini, Ahmed Adams and Jonah Attuquaye but looked poised for the kill with the likes of Stephen Amankona, Kofi Owusu and arrival of ‘experienced’ centre-back Edward Kpodo.
King Faisal will climax the second round of games in their crucial game with Aduana Stars who are yet to kick a ball in the Ghana Premier League.
Despite a series of poor results last season, King Faisal began their 2020/21 scoring three goals but conceded four against Sogakope-based WAFA last Sunday.
Having already warmed themselves into the league, the ‘Insha Allah’ boys will look forward to startling the Dormaa-based side who were tipped to win the ultimate before the league was truncated and the backline will have to deal with bulky and tough forward Yahaya Mohammed who bagged 11 goals in 15 games for Aduana Stars last season.
BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY
Accra Hearts of Oak and Dreams FC will headline Matchday 5 of the Ghana Premier League when the two sides meet at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium tomorrow, with both clubs seeking a result that could shape their early season campaign.
The encounter comes at a crucial moment for the two sides with the Phobians looking to recover from their first defeat of the campaign and Dreams still searching for their first victory after four matches.
The Rainbow lads started the season strongly but were beaten 1-0 by Karela United last weekend, while Dreams suffered a slim 1-0 defeat to Bechem United.
Hearts had earlier recorded impressive victories over Berekum Chelsea and Bibiani Gold Stars before drawing goalless with Bechem United, leaving the club with seven points from their opening four matches.
Their defeat at Karela United, however, means they will be under pressure to quickly return to winning ways against a Dreams side determined to make home advantage count.
Dreams, meanwhile, have endured a difficult beginning to the campaign and will see tomorrow’s fixture as an opportunity to change their fortunes.
The ‘Still Believe’ side have collected points from only their opening draws and are yet to register a victory, making the meeting with one of the country’s traditional giants an important test of their character.
Elsewhere, Vision FC will welcome Bibiani Gold Stars to the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex today, with both teams looking to strengthen their positions.
Vision have shown encouraging form in the early stages, while Gold Stars will be seeking a response after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to newcomers Port City FC.
At the Debibi Presby Park, newly promoted Debibi United will face defending champions Medeama SC tomorrow.
Medeama finally opened their account with a convincing 4-1 victory over Basake Holy Stars and will be hoping that the result marks the beginning of a stronger title defence.
Port City FC will continue their impressive debut campaign when they host Bechem United at the Daasebere Boamah Darko II Park.
Basake Holy Stars will attempt to recover from their heavy defeat to Medeama when they host Berekum Chelsea at the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena.
Aduana FC will welcome Swedru All Blacks to the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park after producing one of the weekend’s most notable results last Sunday.
At the Kpando Stadium, Heart of Lions will host FC AshantiGold ’04 in another meeting between sides coming off victories.
FC Samartex 1996 will meanwhile welcome Young Apostles FC to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, with the home side seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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Tuesday, September 29, 2026 would go into the annals of Ghana football as one of the darkest days for the Black Stars.
In an AFCON 2027 qualifier against The Gambia, the Black Stars did not only break the hearts of the fans, but conceded a defeat that left followers with sleepless nights.
Coming from a Matchday 1 defeat to the Elephants of La Cote d’Ivoire in Bouake, the outcome of the second game against The Gambia was one that was non-negotiable.
It had the ability to spark a revival to contend for one of the slots for the next AFCON showpiece.
The Gambia is a formidable side but definitely, not one to have frustrated Ghanaians to watch in pain and awe the Black Stars lose a game from a winning position.
That is a possibility in the game of football but when the stakes are high in such cases, it becomes unacceptable to the fans.
And grievously has Carlos Queiroz answered the massive call for his resignation.
At his post-match press conference, he made it clear that bowing out was the easiest decision but insisted that would not solve the myriad problems facing the Black Stars.
For the coach to be fired two days after that declaration raises a lot of concerns as he seem to be aware of existing problems the FA may even not know.
Unfortunately, coaches over the years have always been sacrificial lambs in situations of this nature but when he talks about particular problems affecting the team, his sack leaves much to be desired.
That aside, it is important to also take another look at the country’s pool of players, both local and foreign based.
Some of us have been advocates for forming the Black Stars around the ever-present local players who may lack the skill, finesse and flamboyance believed to give the foreign based players the edge over their local counterparts.
The locals, however, compensate that with their commitment and dedication.
Sadly, it appears this consistent call have fallen on deaf ears and no one wants to give any attention to that.
If the fear is that results would be poor, then that would be no excuse again following outcomes of the Stars in their last two games.
From what was witnessed in Bouake and Accra, one can confidently boast that there isn’t much difference between the foreign based players and the locals.
If there is any, it would probably be the treatment given to the two sets of players.
The call on the FA now is to give major consideration to the local players. Any coach that sees no good in the local players must have no business handling the national team.
That does not also shut the door on the ‘foreigners’. We witnessed how the early 90s teams were beautifully blended to have a formidable team.
It is time the FA goes back to the basics. With the locals, there can be more camps, leading to improved cohesion. Any foreign based player invited must settle into the team quickly and make a difference. That is the only way to rescue the Black Stars from its free fall.
By Andrew Nortey
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