Sports
Hearts face Inter Allies in cracker
Accra Hearts of Oak would seek to make amends for their last-gasp 2-2 stalemate against Ashantigold on Tuesday when they face Inter Allies in an ‘Accra affair’ tomorrow at the Accra Sports Stadium in the Ghana Premier league (GPL).
With the league entering its third week, Coach Edward Odoom of Hearts would be focused on seeing a much sharper attack – after he lamented in post-match against Ashantigold how missed opportunities to ‘kill’ the game stung them in the end by Hans Kwofie’s late equaliser for the visitors.
Allies themselves have really sweated with the absence of skipper and lethal forward Victorien Adebayor whose 12 goals in the truncated season kept them afloat as Henrik Lehm’s side are yet to hit the back of the net in their two games this campaign.
Earlier this year in the truncated season, the ‘Phobians’ needed a late effort from defender Mohammed Alhassan to share the spoils in an enthralling encounter that ended 1-1.
With home side Allies eager for their first win and a goal, and Hearts determined to improve their conversion rate, the clash is expected to spark off fireworks with Paul Abagna leading the charge for Allies, whilst attacker Kojo Obeng Jnr will be hoping to repeat his dosage of brace on Tuesday in Phobian colours against Allies.
Elsewhere in Dormaa, Aduana Stars will welcome Bechem United to the Nana Agyemang Badu l Park in a regional derby. In the truncated league, Aduana was able to grab a point in Bechem after a barren encounter – a result the ‘Hunters’ would look to better with their talented crop of youngsters led by Hafiz Konkoni, scoring prodigy Kwabena Adu and Moro Salifu.
But in experienced forward Yakubu Mohammed, Caleb Amankwaa, Stephen Bioh, Benjamin Adjei and goalie Joe Addo, they will meet a well-drilled ‘Ogya boys’ unit who have turned their home venue into a waterloo for their opponents.
In other games, Ebusua Dwarfs will have a difficult game on their hands as they host undefeated Berekum Chelsea at the Cape Coast Stadium, whilst WAFA despite their invincibility at their Sogakope base would be wary of Yaw Acheampong’s Elmina Sharks who proved to be ‘stubborn’ on the road in the truncated league.
In Aiyanase, a rejuvenated Karela team will play their second home game on the bounce when they face Dreams FC at the reconstructed CAM Park. The two sides, both unbeaten, would tussle to keep their impressive start going with Karela favourites at their dreaded Nzema base.
At the Carl Reindorf Park in Dansoman today, Liberty Professionals will face a major test against the Techiman side, XI Wonders.
The ‘Scientific Soccer’ lads, in search of their first win, slot it out with a Wonders side primed to be the surprise package of this campaign and would need an aggressive performance from Abraham Wayo, George Ansong, Razak Boame and Samuel Amofa to overcome creative player Ibrahim Salifu-inspired Wonders outfit.
Games between Great Olympics and Asante Kotoko as well as Ashantigold and King Faisal have been rescheduled as both Kotoko and AshantiGold are engaged in continental competitions.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
Football is widely regarded as a sport where teamwork, not always individual brilliance, leads to success. This principle likely underpins the notable confidence expressed by Ghanaian soccer fans following the draw for the FIFA 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
So, despite the not-so-impressive performance of the Black Stars, Ghanaians remain optimistic about the team’s chances.
Last Friday’s draw pitched the Black Stars against England, Croatia, and Panama in a group that has been described in several ways. Some say it is manageable; others believe it is a tricky group, while for some, it represents Ghana’s easiest group compared to previous World Cups attended.
In sampling the views of some soccer fans, one retorted: “This is the best group in our World Cup history. England is no match. We may draw with Croatia and beat Panama. We are the favourites in the group.”
At that point, I conceded the lack of the “technical, or perhaps spiritual, eyes” that allow some fans to reach such confident conclusions about the Black Stars’ prospects.
Taking a closer look at the group, England are, without doubt, the strongest on paper with a fourth-place ranking in the latest FIFA rankings. Croatia follows in 10th position, Panama in 30th, and the Black Stars in 72nd position.
These statistics and several other factors make the fans’ overwhelming confidence appear untenable, and it would be wise to join those urging Team Ghana to tread with caution.
Comparatively, England comes to the table with the strongest team not just by virtue of their ranking. They also boast a squad featuring players from top clubs across the globe. Top performers like Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Marc Guehi, Alexander Trent-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden, Harry Kane, and others can be identified with the Three Lions.
The Croatians also boast world-class players such as Dominik Livaković, Joško Gvardiol, Luka Modrić, Nikola Vlašić, Andrej Kramarić, Ivan Perišić, Toni Fruk, and many others.
Ghana, however, comes with a talented squad that will depend more on teamwork rather than individual brilliance, which the aforementioned teams could boast of.
With all things working together for the good of the Black Stars, Coach Otto Addo will have the luxury of calling on Thomas Partey, Antoine Semenyo, Alexander Djiku, Mohammed Salisu, Jordan Ayew, Inaki Williams, Benjamin Asare, Mohammed Kudus, Kwesi Sibo, and other emerging talents.
For Panama, they have a virtually unknown squad with players plying their trade in some respectable leagues. In their final qualifier, they featured Marseille right-back Michael Amir Murillo, Norwich City center-back Jose Cordoba, Slovan Bratislava defender Cesar Blackman, Las Palmas midfielder Edward Cedeno, Pumas UNAM playmaker Adalberto Carrasquilla, and San Diego midfielder Anibal Godoy.
Panama comes as the biggest beneficiary of the CONCACAF decision to host the World Cup, granting three automatic qualifications to the USA, Canada, and Mexico. But this does not make them automatic minnows, as many fans might want to believe.
It would be unrealistic to assume that the Black Stars have the men to outshine England or Croatia based purely on individual talents. But since football thrives on teamwork, Panama—and just like Ghana—can dare to dream against the big boys in the group and rewrite their World Cup history.
By Andrew Nortey
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Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko would hope to return to winning ways this weekend following defeats in their Matchday 13 Ghana Premier League (GPL) games last week.
Both teams suffered defeats on the road, leaving them with 21 points apiece, with the Phobians sitting seventh, two places below Kotoko.
At the University of Ghana Sports Stadium today, Hearts of Oak will attempt a second straight victory when they host Nations FC. The Phobians lost 1-0 to Nations FC last season in this fixture at the Tuba Astro Turf, a game many Hearts fans would want to forget.
Tomorrow, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, injury-stricken Asante Kotoko will hope for a good day when they host 14th-placed Dreams FC. Dreams FC suffered a 4-1 battering last season in this fixture and will be looking for revenge.
Dreams FC, led by Winfred Dormon, a protégé of Coach Zito, will aim to exact revenge on his former boss following that heavy defeat last season.
After going down 2-0 in the highly-anticipated Western Derby against Samartex FC last week, Bibiani Gold Stars return to their base at the Dun’s Park to host Medeama SC in another blockbuster Western derby.
Following their 2-0 victory over Hearts last week, Karela United will trek to the Wenchi Sports Stadium to face Young Apostles.
In other games, Berekum Chelsea will hope to return to winning ways when they host high-flying Hohoe United at the Golden City Park, while Basake Holy Stars FC will host Samartex FC at the Ampian AAK II Sports Arena in Azulewanu.
Swedru All Blacks will take on Vision FC at the Swedru Stadium, with the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park hosting the Bechem United FC vs. Eleven Wonders game.
By Raymond Ackumey
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