Sports
Can Kotoko beat WAFA to maintain lead?
PORCUPINE Warriors Asante Kotoko must break the WAFA jinx in a bid to maintain their top spot when the two teams clash today in their Match Day 26 fixture of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.
The Asanteman representation have failed to find wins in their last four meeting with WAFA who won one with the last three ending in draws.
With pressure from the chasing pack including Hearts of Oak, Karela United and Medeama SC, Coach Mariano Barreto and his charges must unlock the unyielding defence of WAFA to secure the vital three points.
Luckily, the likes of Fabio Gama, Abdul Ganiyu, Michael Vinicius and skipper Emmanuel Gyamfi are in the form of their lives and would be in the thick of affairs for Kotoko.
Both teams have also won their last games and would go into the clash with hopes of maintaining their winning streak to consolidate their positions on the league table.
However, WAFA will be keen on preserving their recent dominance against Kotoko and a win would be immensely fancied.
Currently occupying the eighth position on the league log with 38 points, a win would push them close to the top spot and would go all out for a kill against the side they have been very comfortable against.
Elsewhere, Accra Great Olympics will slot it out with bottom-placed Inter Allies in another cracker at the Accra Sports Stadium this afternoon to usher in the weekend round of matches with the mass of the games scheduled for tomorrow.
With Olympics poised to securing top-four place and bounce back to winning ways after their 1-0 defeat in their last game – and Inter Allies beaming with confidence after thrashing Berekum Chelsea 5-0 in their last game, the stage is really set for a cracker.
It is going to be a difficult afternoon for Oly as the Allies are determined to throw everything into the game to give their relegation fight a big boost.
Struggling Legon Cities would host Aduana Stars tomorrow at the Accra Sports Stadium with the home side in search for a win to stay in the league.
Third-placed Karela United will travel to face Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park as they search for the maximum points against a side that seemed to have given up on their fight for the league title.
The Dawu Park will host Dreams FC and Bechem United in another mouthwatering encounter while Medeama and Ashantigold face off in a very dicey fixture expected to be keenly contested.
Ebusua Dwarfs and Liberty Professionals clash at the Cape Coast Stadium with Elmina Sharks and King Faisal battling it out at Nduom Sports Stadium.
CAPTION:
Andy Francis Kumi – Kotoko striker
Football is widely regarded as a sport where teamwork, not always individual brilliance, leads to success. This principle likely underpins the notable confidence expressed by Ghanaian soccer fans following the draw for the FIFA 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
So, despite the not-so-impressive performance of the Black Stars, Ghanaians remain optimistic about the team’s chances.
Last Friday’s draw pitched the Black Stars against England, Croatia, and Panama in a group that has been described in several ways. Some say it is manageable; others believe it is a tricky group, while for some, it represents Ghana’s easiest group compared to previous World Cups attended.
In sampling the views of some soccer fans, one retorted: “This is the best group in our World Cup history. England is no match. We may draw with Croatia and beat Panama. We are the favourites in the group.”
At that point, I conceded the lack of the “technical, or perhaps spiritual, eyes” that allow some fans to reach such confident conclusions about the Black Stars’ prospects.
Taking a closer look at the group, England are, without doubt, the strongest on paper with a fourth-place ranking in the latest FIFA rankings. Croatia follows in 10th position, Panama in 30th, and the Black Stars in 72nd position.
These statistics and several other factors make the fans’ overwhelming confidence appear untenable, and it would be wise to join those urging Team Ghana to tread with caution.
Comparatively, England comes to the table with the strongest team not just by virtue of their ranking. They also boast a squad featuring players from top clubs across the globe. Top performers like Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Marc Guehi, Alexander Trent-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden, Harry Kane, and others can be identified with the Three Lions.
The Croatians also boast world-class players such as Dominik Livaković, Joško Gvardiol, Luka Modrić, Nikola Vlašić, Andrej Kramarić, Ivan Perišić, Toni Fruk, and many others.
Ghana, however, comes with a talented squad that will depend more on teamwork rather than individual brilliance, which the aforementioned teams could boast of.
With all things working together for the good of the Black Stars, Coach Otto Addo will have the luxury of calling on Thomas Partey, Antoine Semenyo, Alexander Djiku, Mohammed Salisu, Jordan Ayew, Inaki Williams, Benjamin Asare, Mohammed Kudus, Kwesi Sibo, and other emerging talents.
For Panama, they have a virtually unknown squad with players plying their trade in some respectable leagues. In their final qualifier, they featured Marseille right-back Michael Amir Murillo, Norwich City center-back Jose Cordoba, Slovan Bratislava defender Cesar Blackman, Las Palmas midfielder Edward Cedeno, Pumas UNAM playmaker Adalberto Carrasquilla, and San Diego midfielder Anibal Godoy.
Panama comes as the biggest beneficiary of the CONCACAF decision to host the World Cup, granting three automatic qualifications to the USA, Canada, and Mexico. But this does not make them automatic minnows, as many fans might want to believe.
It would be unrealistic to assume that the Black Stars have the men to outshine England or Croatia based purely on individual talents. But since football thrives on teamwork, Panama—and just like Ghana—can dare to dream against the big boys in the group and rewrite their World Cup history.
By Andrew Nortey
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Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko would hope to return to winning ways this weekend following defeats in their Matchday 13 Ghana Premier League (GPL) games last week.
Both teams suffered defeats on the road, leaving them with 21 points apiece, with the Phobians sitting seventh, two places below Kotoko.
At the University of Ghana Sports Stadium today, Hearts of Oak will attempt a second straight victory when they host Nations FC. The Phobians lost 1-0 to Nations FC last season in this fixture at the Tuba Astro Turf, a game many Hearts fans would want to forget.
Tomorrow, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, injury-stricken Asante Kotoko will hope for a good day when they host 14th-placed Dreams FC. Dreams FC suffered a 4-1 battering last season in this fixture and will be looking for revenge.
Dreams FC, led by Winfred Dormon, a protégé of Coach Zito, will aim to exact revenge on his former boss following that heavy defeat last season.
After going down 2-0 in the highly-anticipated Western Derby against Samartex FC last week, Bibiani Gold Stars return to their base at the Dun’s Park to host Medeama SC in another blockbuster Western derby.
Following their 2-0 victory over Hearts last week, Karela United will trek to the Wenchi Sports Stadium to face Young Apostles.
In other games, Berekum Chelsea will hope to return to winning ways when they host high-flying Hohoe United at the Golden City Park, while Basake Holy Stars FC will host Samartex FC at the Ampian AAK II Sports Arena in Azulewanu.
Swedru All Blacks will take on Vision FC at the Swedru Stadium, with the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park hosting the Bechem United FC vs. Eleven Wonders game.
By Raymond Ackumey
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