Sports
Hearts battle Aduana Stars for first win
Accra Hearts of Oak will be in search of their first win when they welcome poor-performing Aduana Stars to the Accra Sports Stadium tomorrow in the Ghana Premier League week-three game.
The Phobians have gone two games without a win, playing goalless with Legon Cities and a 1-1 stalemate with West Africa Soccer Academy (WAFA).
The latter has had a sloppy start, having conceded a 3-1 defeat to King Faisal last Sunday and a point in their opener against Karela United. However, Hearts gaffer, Samuel Boadu remains optimistic his charges would bounce back to winning ways against the ‘Ogya boys’.
Dreams FC will host Accra Lions at the Theatre of Dreams, in Dawu today. Having picked up from their painful defeat to Asante Kotoko in their first game, Dreams FC punished Elmina Sharks 3-1 at the Ndoum Sports Stadium last Sunday and will be aiming to continue with their fine form, unlike the away team who will be eager to snatch their first victory – having drawn against Sharks on match-day one and a 3-1 defeat to Great Olympics last Sunday in the Accra derby.
In other games, Legon Cities will lock horns with the Olympics in a stiff contest at the Accra Sports Stadium. Despite losing key men including Gladson Awako and Michelle Otou, Oly has managed four points in two games.
Eleven Wonder will play host to Medeama SC at the Ohene Ameyaw Park in Techiman tomorrow, with Bechem United and Elmina Sharks slugging it out at the Nana Gyebour Park in Bechem. RTU will battle it out with WAFA at the Aliu Mahama Sports tomorrow as both could use this game to put smiles on the faces of their fans, having gone two games without a win.
Two in-form clubs – King Faisal and Ashantigold will clash at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow, while Karela United will be at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park in Aiyinase to engage Berekum Chelsea on the same day.
BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY
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.
