Sports
CAF Champions League prelims: Medeama plot Horoya AC downfall
Jonathan Sowah -Medeama SC
Ghanaian champions, Medeama SC will attempt a historical appearance at the group stages of the ongoing CAF Champions League when they play as guests of Guinean giants, Horoya AC in the second-leg second-round playoff tie today at the General Lansana Conté Stadium in Conakry.
The Yellow and Mauves heads into the tie on the back of a 3-1 victory from the first leg in Cape Coast a fortnight
ago.
Should the Tarkwa-based club clear the Horoya hurdle, they will become the first Ghanaian team to make it to the group stage of the competition in over a decade since Berekum Chelsea last featured in 2012.
Playing in their maiden Champions League competition, coach Augustine Evans Adotey and his charges are determined to produce an outstanding performance to complement that of the first leg, which would see them through to the group stages.
Carrying a 3-1 advantage into the game, coach Adotey remains cautious about the task, as he notes that he would be approaching the game as if it were 0-0 from the first leg.
“We have gotten to a stage where complacency is nowhere near our books as we head into the game today. We are very focused on reaching the group stages, and until we achieve that, we are not taking our feet off the pedal,” he stated.
The reigning Ghana Premier League champions have had a challenging start to their domestic title defence, failing to secure a win in their opening two fixtures.
Drawing a 2-2 draw at home with Accra Lions and then a 2-0 defeat at the hands of former champions Aduana FC in Dormaa last Sunday have raised eyebrows about the team’s preparedness for the Horoya AC task but coach Adotey seems not to be perturbed by the results from the two league games, pinning them to the injuries facing the team.
However, coach Adotey is brimming with smiles ahead of the game today as ‘tormentor-in-chief’ and striker Jonathan Sowah has made a swift recovery from a minor injury and is available for the game today.
Midfielder Manuel Mantey and experienced defenders Fatawu Hamidu and Kwadwo Amoako have all passed a late fitness test and will be available for selection today after missing out on their last game against the Aduana Stars.
The task in Guinea is expected to be a daunting one for the Ghanaian champions following Horoya’s consistency at the group stage of the competition.
The Guineans eliminated Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas at this stage last year to reach the group stage and are counting on their experience in the competition to get past Medeama today.
For many, Horoya remain favorites to win the game, but what remains to be seen is whether they can dump out Medeama or whether the latter will cause an upset in the competition by eliminating the Guinean giants.
Algerian referee Nabil Boukhalfa has been appointed to officiate the game with assistance from Brahim El Hamlaoui, Sid Ali, and Mohammed Serradj, with Loutfi Bekouassa as the fourth official.
By Raymond Ackumey
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.
