Sports
Hearts, Kotoko chase President Cup plus three points in Accra
• Who wins the President’s Cup?
The Accra Sports Stadium will explode into life tomorrow when Hearts of Oak lock horns with bitter rivals and defending Premier League champions – Asante Kotoko in a betPawa Premier League match-day 20 fixture – that has more than three points at stake.
The much-heralded encounter will serve as the 2023 President Cup; meaning winner of the day sails away with GHø50,000 to be presented by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who will grace the occasion.
Should the ‘Super clash’ end in a draw, the two powerhouses will split the points before proceeding to penalties to determine the winner.
However, straight victory in regulation time would guarantee three points for the winner as the loser will have to settle for GHø30,000.
Defending President’s Cup champions Hearts have recently seen some poor run of results, having lost twice in a row against Aduana Stars and Great Olympics on Wednesday.
With just a single win in their last five outings, the Phobians have dropped to sixth on the league table with eight points adrift leaders Aduana Stars.
A section of the agitated fans have expressed their displeasure with regard to Coach Slavko Matic’s approach and are desperately calling for his head.
The Serbian tactician will have to redeem himself by exhibiting his best to amass all three points against the arch rivals who they defeated to win the President’s Cup last year.
The visitors managed to bounce back from their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Aduana Stars to secure a hard-fought slim 1-0 victory over Bechem United in mid-week.
A win for the Porcupine Warriors will see Coach Seydou Zerbo and his charges close up the game on Aduana Stars, having garnered 31 points with leaders on 36 points.
At the Baba Yara Stadium today, struggling King Faisal will host Great Olympics.
The hosts will need nothing but the three points to move out of the relegation zone, having shared spoils with Aduana Stars on match-day 19 in a goalless stalemate.
On Sunday, the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park will be fired up when Bechem United welcome in-form Gold Stars to a cagey test.
Maxwell Konadu-led Legon Cities will have a tough hurdle to cross tomorrow when they tussle it out with Real Tamale United at the El Wak Stadium.
Eighth-placed Medeama SC will be at the Akoon Park tomorrow as they rub shoulders with Berekum Chelsea in a stiff contest.
The Tarkwa-based team will be without trainer Umar Abi who resigned after their 1-1 draw with Real Tamale United days ago, while bottom-placed Kotoku Royals make a trip to the Nana Kronmansah Park to face Nsoatreman.
Samartex will battle Aduana Stars while Tamale City face most high-performing Accra Lions at the Aliu Mahama Stadium on Sunday evening.
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.
