Sports
Hearts storm home of ASR Bamako …for CAF Confederation Cup qualifier
Afriyie Barnieh – Hearts forward
Hearts of Oak will clash with AS Real Bamako at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako, Mali, in their CAF Confederations Cup second round first leg fixture this afternoon.
The game would be a huge test for former Liberty Professionals trainer David Ocloo who will lead the Hearts’ team after they parted ways with Samuel Boadu who managed to get the team back into continental football, after winning the FA Cup last season.
The 2004 champions square off against the Malian giants in a quest to restore their image on the continental stage after an embarrassing campaign last season.
Hearts dropped into the play-off round of the Confederations Cup last season after they were eliminated by eventual winners WAC of Morocco in the Champions League. However, the Phobians also fell off embarrassingly against JS Saoura to miss out on the money zone of the Confederations Cup.
The Phobians also go into the game hoping to make the nation proud after their arch rivals and fellow Ghanaian football giants, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, were eliminated in the first preliminary round of the Champions League after losing to RC Kadiogo of Burkina Faso.
Hearts will dash into the game in a bid to secure a win far away at Bamako in order to set up a very comfortable return encounter in Accra, next weekend.
A win would also be a huge boost to the team that has started this season’s Ghana Premier League on a very slow note, failing to secure a win in three games.
With the sacking of their head coach Boadu, a lot of weight would be on the shoulders of the team to give fans something to cheer about after a very devastating start to the season – coupled with the suspension of the league.
The likes of Mohammed Alhassan, Gladson Awako, Seidu Suraj and Daniel Afrieyie Barnieh would be leading the Phobians to make it tick in Bamako.
For the hosts, it would be all to play for as they would have their home fans cheering them on to clinch a vital win ahead of their visit to Ghana.
The Malians are usually dominant at home and should set up to frustrate their opponents with their physicality and clout.
With a lot at stake for both teams, it promises to be a keenly-contested encounter ahead of the second leg clash to be played in Accra.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
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.
