Sports
CAF Champions League prelims… Hearts eager to tame WAC
One of the fiercest football battles will be waged on Sunday when Ghana Premier League giants, Hearts of Oak, engage Morocco powerhouse, Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) in the first leg second round preliminary tie at the Accra Sports Stadium.
After thrashing lower-tier side Dzida 6-1 in a test game, the Phobians will be aiming to give the Moroccans a taste of their cake before making a trip to Casablanca a week later for the return fixture.
The 2000 CAF Champions League showed CI Kamsar the exit door after edging pass the Guinea opponents in one-off game weeks ago to book a battle with the 21-time Moroccan champions.
Should the Rainbow lads cross this daunting hurdle against the former African champions, they will feature in the group stages of the most prestigious club competition on the continent for the first time since 2006.
The last time Hearts played against a Moroccan club, they failed to advance to the next stage of the competition after Raja Casablanca managed a draw in Accra and narrowly beat Hearts 1-0 in Casablanca for the second leg.
However, some pundits of the game argue the recent long-standing absence of the Phobians and the consistence performance of Wydad on the continent will be too difficult a hurdle to cross with WAC already recording a 100 per cent output in the league after five games.
Currently on top of the league, the Moroccans will be counting on prowess of star man Zouheir El Moutaraji to cause havoc to the backline of Hearts.
The young Moroccan forward has scored two in five games and will be eager to continue his sublime form, come Sunday.
Coach Samuel Boadu and his charges are poised to leave no stone unturned as they aim to make the group stages.
Forward Kofi Kordzi, Daniel Afriyie and Isaac Mensah could headline the attack. The return of midfielder Abdul Aziz Nurudeen will be huge boost as midfielder Emmanuel Nettey has been reported a doubt for the tough clash.
By Linus Siaw Nartey
Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew says Ghana will leave nothing on the pitch when they face England in today’s World Cup Group L decider at Gillette Stadium.
With both teams on 3 points, Ayew said his job is to ease pressure on the younger players and hold everyone accountable, himself included.
“I’m doing my best to guide the boys, make them comfortable, take pressure off them, and help us perform,” Ayew told reporters. “I have to perform too. They have to perform too. It’s teamwork. We’re helping each other.”
Ghana come into the Foxborough clash after a 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto. England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opener.
The captain’s message was simple, “We’re going to give our 100% and we’re going to fight. I’ll make sure when we come off that pitch, we have no regrets.”
The winner takes control of Group L. Kickoff is 4:00 PM ET at Gillette Stadium.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Black Stars forward Brandon Thomas-Asante insists Ghana will carry no pressure into Tuesday’s World Cup showdown with England at Boston Stadium, saying the team’s self-belief and sense of purpose outweigh outside expectations.
Brandon provided a 95th minute assist that helped Ghana beat Panama 1-0 in Toronto.
The win left both Ghana and England level on three points in Group L following the Three Lions 4-2 over Croatia in their opening match.
Speaking to ghanafa.org Thomas-Asante is adamant that external doubt only fuels the squad.
“Everything to the best ability, it’s very much a case of we back ourselves, we believe in ourselves. Whether people on the outside doubt us, believe us, or anything that’s not what we think about. We think about why we’re here. We’re on a mission,” Thomas-Asante said.
The Coventry City forward said that mission removes any weight of expectation. “That means there’s no pressure. It’s even less pressure for us,” he explained.
“We know our fans believe, but we know that some people might want to overlook us. We use that to our advantage preparing properly and believing that we can go and do something,” He added.
England and Ghana both sit on three points heading into the Foxborough clash, with the winner set to take control of Group L. Kickoff at Boston Stadium on Tuesday.
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