Sports
Dicey duels for Medeama, Kotoko
The Medeama players celebrating one of their wins
Seven weeks into the new Ghana Premier League season, Medeama SC and Kumasi Asante Kotoko have shown a strong desire to dominate and make their presence felt.
The duo share the two top spots on the table after match week seven and would hope to carry on with their impressive start to consolidate their positions.
However, sustaining those runs will be a major challenge as week eight throws difficult games at them and on ‘enemy’ territories.
Medeama will face the biggest test at the Dormaa where they play as guest of struggling Aduana Stars.
The Aduana lads have not been at their best this season and could be considered to be the latest victims of the high-flying Medeama side in the clash.
But despite their struggles, Aduana has kept the Dormaa ground as a waterloo for visiting teams and the visit of Medeama will be no exception.
Kotoko would equally aim to paint the CAM Park in Aiyinase red when they take on Premier League debutants, Basake Holy Stars.
Holy Stars started the season with a bang; upsetting Kotoko’s biggest rivals, Hearts of Oak, in Accra on opening day.
From that day, they have been considered a side to always watch out for. And surely, Coach Prosper Ogum would have one eye on them to terminate what they bring to the table with the other focused on what to do to snatch the maximum points.
One other side fighting hard to join the elites at the top is Hearts of Oak. They endured a very difficult start to the season as they lost the first two games.
But they seem to have gotten their act right, recording eight points so far in their last five games including last weekend’s draw with Dreams FC.
At the University of Ghana (UG) Stadium, the Phobians will welcome GoldStars in a game that would test Hearts’ new form.
The Nsenkyire Sports Arena will also be full of fireworks when defending league champions, Samartex, face Berekum Chelsea.
A similar story would be told at the Kpando Sports Stadium where Heart of Lions take on Nsoatreman just as Bechem United look set to stretch Karela United at the Bechem Park.
At the Ohene Ameyaw Park, Young Apostles could further delay Dreams FC’s quest for a first win with Nations FC battling Vision FC in a game of equals.
Also at the UG Stadium, Legon Cities will slug it out with Accra Lions.
By Andrew Nortey
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.
