Sports
Hearts, Dreams to rock Accra
Hearts of Oak new coach, Kosta Papic, will be targeting a first win for his side when they face Dreams FC tomorrow in a tricky tie at the Accra Stadium in a match week 5 encounter.
The Phobians’ winless streak from two games triggered the appointment of Papic – a coach who formerly guided Hearts to premier league success in 2008 – to take over from stop-gap manager, Edward Nii Odoom.
But the Serbian watched from the sideline after four days in charge as his side laboured to frustrating 0-0 draw against Karela United, a result assistant coach Asare Bediako pointed out highlighted their struggles with scoring.
Fortunately for the Phobians, the schedule handed them another home advantage to fix their shortcomings before setting off on the road for much difficult match days. As Papic aims to deliver Hearts a first win, he would be wary of Hearts former striker Joseph Esso, who would be eager to score against his former side.
In other games, a regional derby at the Carl Reindorf Park will witness Liberty Professionals against revived Great Olympics. Olympics should be hoping to continue their fairy-tale start to the season against a stubborn Liberty side.
In Obuasi, AshantiGold would be hoping to overcome their exit in the CAF Confederations Cup by recording their first GPL win against a well-drilled Elmina Sharks team.
League leaders Karela would hope to continue their good start against King Faisal.
Aduana Stars have a crunch tie in Dormaa against an improved Eleven Wonders side while Berekum Chelsea must dust-off the disappointment of their 1-0 loss to Ebusua Dwarfs to survive against WAFA at Sogakope.
The rest of match week five fixtures to be played today would see Inter Allies playing Bechem United at the Accra Stadium and Dwarfs facing Medeama SC in Cape Coast.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
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.
