Sports
Kotoko Host Heart of Lions Today
Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Kpando Heart of Lions will lock horns in a Ghana Premier League Matchday 21 clash at the Baba Yara Stadium today.
Heart of Lions, who occupied second place earlier in the season, have since dropped down the table and now sit seventh, having been overtaken by Kotoko.
Both teams head into the encounter on the back of contrasting results. Kotoko recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars, while the Lions suffered a narrow 1-0 away defeat to Bechem United.
The last meeting between the two sides at the Baba Yara Stadium ended in a pulsating goalless draw. However, ahead of today’s fixture, Kotoko head coach Karim Zito is confident his side will claim all three points.
His counterpart, Coach Bashir Hayford, has remained tight-lipped, preferring to keep his cards close to his chest.
Meanwhile, defending league champions Bibiani Gold Stars, who fell 2-0 to Aduana FC at the Golden City Park in Berekum last week, will return to Dun’s Park to host returnees Swedru All Blacks in what locals have described as a must-win encounter.
Gold Stars have dropped from second to fifth place following recent results, and head coach Fritz Markus Schmid is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to drag the team back into the title race.
The experienced Swiss tactician is fully aware of how “slippery” the ‘Ozii, Ozaa!’ lads can be and insists his side will not underrate them ahead of kick-off.
The match will mark the first outing for Swedru All Blacks’ newly appointed head coach, Kasim Mingle, with the Swedru lads banking on his wealth of experience to help them remain competitive.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park tomorrow, it will be a clash of former champions as Aduana FC host FC Samartex 1996 in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
Separated by just a point on the league table, Aduana FC’s Romanian coach, Cioba Aristica, has vowed to exact revenge for their 1-0 first-round defeat as his side seeks to keep the pressure on league leaders Medeama SC.
According to Aristica, any slip-up in the encounter could derail Aduana’s title ambitions.
Elsewhere, Hearts of Oak will welcome Bechem United at the University of Ghana Stadium, while Vision FC face Dreams FC at the Nii Adjei Kraku Stadium in Tema.
The Wenchi Stadium will host the clash between bottom-placed Eleven Wonders and Young Apostles, while the Aliu Mahama Stadium will stage the “Clash of the Uniteds” between Karela United and Hohoe United.
At the Awuale Amihere Kpanyinli III Sports Arena in Ampain, Nzema, Basake Holy Stars will battle Berekum Chelsea to round off the Matchday 21 fixtures.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Sports
Black Starlets arrives in Morocco on U-17 AFCON mission …FA boss charges team to make Ghana proud
The Black Starlets, the national U-17 male team, have safely arrived in Casablanca ahead of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The team departed Accra on Wednesday, travelling with a 35-man contingent made up of 21 players and 14 officials, all focused on delivering a strong campaign on the continental stage.
They completed a smooth five-hour flight to Morocco, where final preparations will continue before the tournament kicks off.
The technical team is expected to fine-tune tactics and build cohesion among the squad as they gear up for the competition.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, was present at the Accra International Airport to bid farewell to the team.
Speaking during a brief farewell at the Airport, the FA President urged the team to carry a ‘never say die’ spirit into the competition.
President Simeon-Okraku emphasised the importance of mental strength and unity, particularly in difficult moments during matches. His message was inspired by the team’s recent friendly encounters against Cote d’Ivoire, where they bounced back strongly after an initial defeat.
“I’m very happy that when you lost to Cote d’Ivoire in your first game during your friendly matches, you were able to bounce back—not only to dominate but to outscore them in the second game,” he said. “I read a lot of meaning into that, and I want all of you to keep that in your heads—that, it’s not over until it’s all over,” he added.
The FA president stressed that the ability to respond positively to setbacks would be crucial in a tournament as competitive as the AFCON.
He encouraged the players to stay united and support one another when the pressure intensifies on the continental stage.
“When the chips are down, that’s when we need to hold each other together,” Okraku added. “So go out there and make Ghana proud.”
Ghana will compete in Group D alongside Algeria, Senegal, and South Africa, with their opening match scheduled for Thursday, May 14.
Twenty-three (23) players have been called up for this month’s international friendly against Mexico.
The squad is composed of star players from the domestic league and European leagues who are closely monitored by Coach Carlos Queiroz, as well as U-23 players who will soon represent Ghana in the upcoming Olympic Games qualifiers.
Notable names include Majeed Ashimeru, Felix Afena-Gyan, Razak Simpson, and Birmingham City’s Ibrahim Osman.
Ashimeru returns to action after a long spell on the sidelines due to a muscle injury that limited his appearances at both club and national level.
Also in the team is Felix Afena-Gyan, whose last appearance for Ghana was in May last year when he featured against Trinidad and Tobago in the Unity Cup in London.
Barcelona B’s Abdul Aziz Issah, Ebenezer Annan of AS Saint-Étienne, Ibrahim Osman of Birmingham City, and Paul Reverson of Ajax FC have also been included in the squad.
Midfielder Salim Adams, one of the key players for Ghana Premier League leaders Medeama SC, leads the group of home-based players.
Others are Heart of Lions’ Ebenezer Abban, Ebenezer Adade of Dreams FC, and Nations FC captain Razak Simpson. Ghana will travel to Mexico for the international friendly on Friday, May 22, 2026.
