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Kotoko, be wary of COVID-19!
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Asante Kotoko are now Ghana’s sole flagbearers in continental football, following the predictable exit of AshantiGold from the CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
The Obuasi ‘Miners’ were flushed out by Burkina Faso’s Salitas FC on a 2-1 aggregate in the preliminary round of the competition, after a grueling barren draw in Obuasi where they were profligate – blowing off an avalanche of gilt-edged opportunities.
It was the reason many predicted an ominous upshot during their trip to Ouagadougou for the return encounter. And, it happened – even though they staged a stormy finish!
Bitter lessons, maybe, may have been gleaned by AshantiGold – 1997 CAF Champions League finalists.
Good news is that AshantiGold’s compatriots – Kotoko, progressed to the next stage of the CAF Champions League campaign without kicking a ball in the return leg fixture against Mauritanian outfit Nouadhibou, slated for the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Asanteman contingent had stormed the capital Nouakchott to battle the Mauritanians to an enchanting 1-1 draw – the home team grabbing a redeemer through a controversial spot-kick, we are told.
The return leg in Accra was billed to be tensely dodgy, though Kotoko were odds on favourites to cruise through after the full duration.
But as it turned out to be, the Porcupine Warriors did not have to sweat and kick a ball to qualify for the next stage as issues of COVID-19 concerns against Nouadhibou smiled favourably on the Ghanaians.
The tie, originally slated for last Saturday, had to be pushed to Sunday (following day) because two Nouadhibou players were said to have tested positive for coronavirus. Interestingly, another mandatory re-test on the day of the match remained the same.
It was a big blow to the Mauritanians who had travelled to Accra with 16 players and were not prepared to play without their two ‘Covid’ players.
The CAF officials, therefore, had the Hobson’s choice of declaring Nouadhibou losers of the game as they awarded a 2-0 win for Kotoko to secure a 3-1 aggregate win.
As expected, the Mauritanians did not take kindly to the decision, suspecting conspiracy between Kotoko and the match officials – insisting that the two players in the centre of the storm, had passed an original test conducted at the airport on their arrival into the country.
Well, the rationale behind this piece is to caution Kotoko to take a leaf from this incident and get fully loaded for bear as they continue to embark on this campaign.
They are likely to go far in the competition if they play more effectively and gird their loins for more taxing battles ahead in a competition carved for champions.
Indeed, if for any reason Kotoko should crash out of the campaign, it must not be attributed to COVID-19 as their opponents suffered. It must be blamed on a lousy performance, ill-luck or something else.
Ghana has not been without a continental club champion in any form since Hearts of Oak’s CAF Confederation Cup conquest in 2004 – and that is not good enough for a country considered a continental powerhouse.
That is why Kotoko must put their nose to the grindstone a bit more, be focused and committed to the grand cause of saving the face of the country.
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGAH
The Black Queens kick off their 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations journey on Wednesday, July 29, when they take on Cape Verde in their Group C opener in Morocco.
Coach Kim Lars Björkegren and his team go into the match full of confidence after weeks of intensive preparations.
The Queens held a successful pre-tournament training camp and played friendly matches to fine-tune ahead of the competition.
With morale high, Ghana’s senior women’s team will be targeting maximum points to get their campaign off to the perfect start.
The match is set for 5:00 PM GMT at the Moulay Rachid Stadium.
Football fans across Ghana will be watching closely, hoping the Queens can secure a positive result and lay the foundation for a memorable WAFCON 2026 run.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
With the World Cup fever gradually dying down, attention would switch to other equally important competitions from now to the latter parts of the year.
Barely a week after the global football showpiece that saw Spain upstaged Argentina as World Champions, over 70 countries gathered in Glasgow, Scotland for the Commonwealth Games that is attracting hundreds of athletes from the Commonwealth community.
Equally, 16 top female national teams in Africa would commence competition for the bragging rights as African champions when the delayed Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 kicks off in Morocco tomorrow.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria are usually considered favourites for this showpiece, having shown the strength and character to dominate the game on the continent.
As defending champions, they come in strongly again, expected to face a more difficult sides like the Black Queens of Ghana, Zambia and Morocco who have been touted as possible teams to cause an upset.
Of the 16 qualified teams, nine featured at the previous edition held in 2024.
Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tunisia, who qualified in 2024, missed out this time, while Cape Verde and Malawi will make their first appearance in the tournament.
Today, The Spectator Sports takes a look at some of the teams expected to rub shoulders with the big guns in the female game.
Cameroon
After missing the previous edition, Cameroon returns to the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 determined to re-establish themselves among Africa’s elite.
The Indomitable Lionesses, one of the continent’s most successful women’s national teams, secured a place at the expanded 16-team tournament after receiving a second chance through CAF’s revised qualification system.
Now, under newly appointed head coach Valentine Nguele and inspired by emerging midfield star Naomi Eto, Cameroon will be aiming not only to reclaim their place among Africa’s leading nations but also to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Cameroon boasts one of the richest histories in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Indomitable Lionesses have reached the final on three occasions—in 2004, 2014 and 2016—but are still searching for their first continental title.
Their consistency has also been reflected in three third-place finishes in 2002, 2012 and 2018, giving Cameroon six podium finishes overall.
Only Nigeria and South Africa have accumulated more top-three finishes in the history of the competition, underlining Cameroon’s long-standing status among Africa’s leading women’s football nations.
Zambia
After finishing third in 2022 and falling short of expectations at the 2024 edition, Zambia head to the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 determined to establish themselves among Africa’s elite.
With one of the continent’s most feared attacking units and new head coach Nora Häuptle at the helm, the Copper Queens will be aiming to lift the Women’s AFCON trophy for the first time.
Barbra Banda remains one of the biggest names in African women’s football.
The Orlando Pride striker has established herself among the leading forwards in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and returns to international competition after recovering from a hip injury suffered late last year.
Powerful, direct and clinical in front of goal, Banda will once again spearhead Zambia’s attack as the Copper Queens pursue their first continental title.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso (Stallions Ladies) return to the competition determined to make history after missing the 2024 edition. Encouraged by an impressive qualifying campaign, the Stallions Ladies head to Morocco aiming to progress beyond the group stage for the first time.
Burkina Faso secured qualification with convincing victories over Burundi and Togo.
The Stallions Ladies defeated Burundi 5-1 on aggregate, following a commanding 4-1 first-leg victory before completing the job with a 1-0 win in the return fixture.
They carried that momentum into the final qualifying round against Togo, winning 2-0 in the first leg before sealing qualification with another 1-0 victory to complete a 3-0 aggregate success.
Nigeria
Reigning champions Nigerias head to Morocco 2026 looking to extend their remarkable record in the competition. With 10 continental titles to their name, the Super Falcons remain the most successful team in the tournament’s history..
Led by Captain Rasheedat Ajibade and head coach Justine Madugu, Nigeria once again begin the competition among the favourites.
Nigeria secured qualification to Morocco 2026 by defeating Benin 3-1 on aggregate in the second round of qualifying.
Having received a bye in the opening round, the Super Falcons took control of the tie with a 2-0 away victory in Cotonou.
They completed the job in Abeokuta, drawing 1-1 in the second leg after Ashleigh Plumptre opened the scoring before Benin equalised through Yasmine Djibril.
The result ensured another successful qualification campaign for the reigning African champions.
Cote d’Ivoire
After a 12-year absence from Africa’s biggest women’s football competition, Côte d’Ivoire returns to the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations aiming to re-establish themselves among the continent’s leading nations.
The Elephants secured an unexpected route back to the finals following the expansion of the tournament from 12 to 16 teams.
Now guided by experienced French coach Reynald Pedros and inspired by prolific striker Habibou Ouedraogo, Côte d’Ivoire believe they have the talent to challenge Africa’s established powers once again.
The Elephants were knocked out in the final qualifying round after a fiercely contested tie against Senegal. Neither side managed to score across the two legs, with Senegal eventually prevailing 5-4 on penalties to deny the Ivorians automatic qualification.
Following the expansion of the Women’s AFCON from 12 to 16 participating teams, CAF allocated the additional places based on the FIFA Women’s World Ranking.
⚽ Group A: Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya,
⚽ Group B: South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania
⚽ Group C: Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi
⚽ Group D: Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde
By Andrew Nortey
