Sports
Gold Stars, Kotoko brace for tough clashes in CAF competitions
Gold Stars and Asante Kotoko would honour difficult second leg ties in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions respectively, this weekend after uninspiring outcomes in the initial legs honoured in Accra.
Gold Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Accra Sports Stadium last Saturday, leaving them with a tall order as they travel to Algeria to face J.S Kabyle in the second leg tie.
Kotoko conceded three goals in the first leg 4-3 win on Sunday at the same venue and would face an equally difficult encounter against the Kwara United side that are aiming at overturning the deficit.
In a two-legged format, expectation was that the Ghanaian sides would record convincing wins in the first legs to make the second legs more comfortable.
But the current situation leaves them in awkward positions, needing wins at all cost to gain entry to the next stage of the competition.
But Gold Stars’ task looks more Herculean, having conceded two goals from the first leg and would have to score three unanswered goals to overcome the Algerians.
That seem an impossible task, knowing the form of North African sides at home as far as the CAF inter-club competitions are concerned.
Though Gold Stars enjoyed large spells of possession in the first leg, the J.S Kabyle side showed their predatory instincts in front of goal.
At home, they would be even more devastating and that could spell doom for the Ghanaians who must put up a spirited display to leave Algiers with a decent outcome.
Asante Kotoko would, however, go into the second leg with a goal advantage which they have to defend with every sinew.
The Nigerians left Ghana beaming with confidence after finding the back of the net on three occasions. It sounds like a rare thing as visiting teams often aim to adopt defensive strategies in order to frustrate the home team.
But in Accra and in front of a few Nigerian fans, they showed character and carried the fight to the Porcupine Warriors and were successful in breaching their defence on many times.
Away in Nigeria, the Porcupine Warriors must put up an improved performance and guard the rear against the onslaught of Kwara United who are hoping to enjoy a lot of support from their fans.
The clash would revive the sporting rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria that has existed for ages and cutting across the various sports.
The Nigerians can be favourites in this clash but Kotoko has the experience to emerge victorious in high profile games like this.
Ghanaians would expect them to ride on the back of that experience to prove to all that, undeniably the porcupine is still alive.
By Andrew Nortey
Management of Asempa FM has issued a public apology to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Kofi Adams, after wrongly quoting him in a recent publication about the selection of players for the Black Stars.
In a statement released by the station’s management, Asempa FM admitted that a quote card shared after Kofi Adams’ interview on Ultimate Sports Show on 13th October 2025 misrepresented his actual remarks.
According to the station, the error created a wrong impression that the Sports Minister was directly involved in selecting players for the national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“The wording on the artwork may have created a misleading impression. For clarity, the Honorable Minister stated that the final decision on player selection rests solely with the technical team, and he emphasized the importance of transparency and merit-based selection,” the statement said.
Asempa FM expressed deep regret for the misrepresentation and apologized to Kofi Adams and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The management further assured the public that the station would take steps to ensure greater accuracy and care in its future communications.
“We hold Kofi Adams and his office in the highest regard and deeply regret any inconvenience or misunderstanding caused,” the statement concluded.
By: Jacob Aggrey
When Otto Addo took charge, Ghana sat fourth in Group I with just three points from two matches — a situation that seemed daunting for even the most optimistic fans. But what followed was one of the most remarkable turnarounds in African World Cup qualifying history.
Addo’s arrival brought renewed tactical clarity and belief. He restructured the team’s shape, redefined roles, and instilled discipline in both defense and attack. The results began to flow as Ghana went on an astonishing run of victories.
The coach’s calm leadership was crucial in restoring confidence to key players who had lost form. Veterans found new motivation, while youngsters flourished under his guidance, creating a perfect blend of maturity and energy.
Each win became a statement of intent — that Ghana was back. The team’s comeback victories over tough opponents like Mali and Central African Republic showed resilience and mental fortitude.
By the end of the campaign, the Black Stars had climbed from fourth to first, topping the group with 25 points and a +17-goal difference — a clear testament to Otto Addo’s transformational leadership.
This turnaround will go down in Ghana’s football annals as a story of hope, determination, and tactical brilliance that brought the nation back to the world stage.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
