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 Starlets midfielder Eric Adu Gyamfi has been named Man of the Match following his outstanding performance in Ghana’s 2-2 draw against Algeria in their opening Group D game at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
The talented youngster delivered a memorable display and capped it with a sensational goal that will surely be remembered as one of the finest strikes of the tournament so far.
After Ghana had taken an early lead through Isaac Barfo in the second minute, Eric Adu Gyamfi doubled the advantage in spectacular fashion on the 10th minute with an audacious long-range volley from the center area that left the Algerian goalkeeper helpless.
His energy, creativity and composure in midfield played a major role in Ghana’s bright start as the Black Starlets dominated large spells of the first half and created several scoring opportunities. The midfielder consistently troubled the Algerian defense with his movement and passing while also contributing defensively whenever the team lost possession.
Despite Ghana surrendering their two-goal lead in the second half, Eric Adu Gyamfi’s individual brilliance stood out throughout the contest and earned him the deserved recognition after the final whistle.
The Black Starlets looked on course for victory after a commanding opening half, but Algeria fought back strongly after the break to score twice before missing a late penalty that could have completed the comeback.
Ghana will now turn attention to their crucial second group game against Senegal on May 17, with the Black Starlets hoping to build on the positives from their opening performance and strengthen their chances of progressing to the next stage of the competition.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo has been named on the official eight-man shortlist for the 2025/26 Premier League Player of the Season award.
The Ghana international is nominated alongside his City teammate Erling Haaland, Manchester United talisman Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal trio Gabriel Magalhães, David Raya, and Declan Rice, Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, and Brentford striker Igor Thiago.
A season of high-profile excellence, Semenyo earns his spot on the prestigious shortlist following a stunning breakthrough year where he registered 16 goals and four assists in 35 Premier League appearances.
The 26-year-old split his highly productive campaign between two clubs, starting the season in electric form for AFC Bournemouth before securing a high-profile £64 million transfer to Manchester City in January 2026.
The versatile attacker adapted instantly to life under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
He won the February EA SPORTS Player of the Month award after netting three goals in his first five games for City, and most recently opened the scoring in a 3-0 midweek victory over Crystal Palace.
Elite Competition for the Top PrizeThe Premier League confirmed that the winner will be decided by combining a public fan vote with the choices of an expert football panel.
Semenyo faces incredibly stiff competition from the other seven nominees who have dominated the 2025/26 landscape:
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