Sports
Eyes on the Prize as Black Stars Host Comoros
The Black Stars are on the brink of securing Ghana’s fifth FIFA World Cup appearance as they face The Coelacanths of Comoros in the final game of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium tomorrow.
A single point from the game will confirm Ghana’s spot at next year’s global tournament—the first in history to feature 48 teams and jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
Coach Otto Addo’s side currently top Group I with 22 points, three clear of second-placed Madagascar. Despite the advantageous position, Addo insists the team must remain focused.
“The job is not done yet, we have to finish off well tomorrow against Comoros,” Addo stated after Ghana’s victory over the Central African Republic on Wednesday.
Comoros, fourth in Group I, are already out of contention for a World Cup berth. However, they could play spoiler by attempting a shock defeat of the Black Stars at home. Even in such a scenario, second-placed Madagascar would need to score eight unanswered goals against Mali to surpass Ghana—a near-impossible task.
Since taking over his second stint as head coach, Otto Addo remains undefeated in 2026 World Cup qualifiers. His record includes:
- Wins against Mali (away), Central African Republic (Kumasi), Chad (Accra), Madagascar, and Central African Republic (Morocco).
- The only draw came against Chad away in N’Djamena.
Meanwhile, Comoros has a competitive edge in recent encounters with the Black Stars, holding two wins, a draw, and one loss in their last four matches. This gives them motivation to finish the qualifiers on a high note and please their fans.
Tomorrow’s clash promises to be thrilling, with Ghana aiming to secure qualification and Comoros seeking to maintain their impressive record against the West Africans.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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Asante Kotoko SC has announced with deep sadness the passing of its former Brands and Marketing Manager, Kweku Hammond.
In a statement released by the club, Kotoko described Hammond’s death as untimely and expressed heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.
“Although his time with the club was brief, Kweku served with dedication, diligence, and unwavering commitment to Asante Kotoko,” the club stated. “His contributions and loyalty to the club will not be forgotten.”
Kweku Hammond served in the club’s Brands and Marketing department, where he played a role in promoting the Porcupine Warriors’ brand and engaging supporters.
The club assured that it will continue to honour his memory and legacy.
“May his soul rest in perfect peace,” the statement concluded.
Fans and members of the football fraternity have since joined the club in mourning, sharing tributes to Hammond for his professionalism and commitment during his time at club.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Captain of Ghana’s National U-15 Boys team, Abdul Aziz Issa, says the exposure gained at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan will be vital for the development of the squad.
Ghana finished 7th out of 189 countries after an impressive campaign, winning eight of ten matches.
“I think we played well, the exposure was good for our development, and we can’t thank FIFA and the GFA enough for this amazing platform,” Issa said.
“I’m so very happy to be part of this FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan. I want to thank my colleagues for how far we have brought Ghana in this tournament.”
The captain believes the experience will prepare the group for future challenges at U-17 and U-20 level.
Ghana enjoyed an outstanding tournament, scoring 44 goals and establishing themselves among the top seven teams.
Their dominant group stage saw them score 27 goals while conceding just three. Salifu Fatawu’s side opened with a commanding 4-1 win over Uzbekistan, thrashed Myanmar 7-1, recorded emphatic 7-0 wins over Guam and the Bahamas, before rounding off the group with a 2-1 triumph over Kazakhstan.
Their pursuit of a higher finish suffered a setback in the knockout phase after elimination by Paraguay in a dramatic encounter.
The team bounced back to finish 7th, including a commanding 4-0 victory over Colombia in their final game, despite suffering a 7-1 defeat to Brazil in the Tier A Ranking Play-Offs.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
