Sports
Hearts will clear Wydad hurdle-Coach Boadu
Head Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Samuel Boadu, has called on the club’s teeming supporters to have belief in the team’s ability to qualify to the league stage of the CAF Champions League competition.
Coach Boadu said it was too early to give up hope on qualification because of the slim win recorded in the first leg encounter on home soil.
Hearts put up a spirited performance on Sunday against North Africa opposition,Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco but churned out 1-0 win over the 2019 winners.
That appears to have forced a section of fans to throw hands in despair, knowing how unfriendly the North African terrain, especially in circumstances of this nature, can be.
But reacting in a post-match presser,Coach Boadu expressed the belief that although the score-line was not what they envisaged, they have what it takes to qualify in faraway Morocco this weekend.
“Our supporters should not give up. We should be guided by our’Never Say Die’ motto. That must spur us on as we move to that dangerous territory. Others might have gone there and not survive but this is Hearts of Oak. We have the men to do this job.”
According to him, a few of his players played with injuries, which also did not help their course.
“Raddy Ovouka’s substitution was as a result of some earlier pains he had, and his withdrawal, coupled with injuries to Caleb Amankwah, Emmanuel Nettey, Ibrahim Salifu among others, affected our play.”
According to him, they have a few days to work on the fitness of these players and hoped thatthe team doctors and physiotherapists work hard to get them fit for the Casablanca tie.
He said having watched the Moroccans,Hearts have an idea about the opposition, and would pick the positives from the game and build upon it ahead of Sunday’s fixture to be played at the King Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew says Ghana will leave nothing on the pitch when they face England in today’s World Cup Group L decider at Gillette Stadium.
With both teams on 3 points, Ayew said his job is to ease pressure on the younger players and hold everyone accountable, himself included.
“I’m doing my best to guide the boys, make them comfortable, take pressure off them, and help us perform,” Ayew told reporters. “I have to perform too. They have to perform too. It’s teamwork. We’re helping each other.”
Ghana come into the Foxborough clash after a 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto. England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opener.
The captain’s message was simple, “We’re going to give our 100% and we’re going to fight. I’ll make sure when we come off that pitch, we have no regrets.”
The winner takes control of Group L. Kickoff is 4:00 PM ET at Gillette Stadium.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Black Stars forward Brandon Thomas-Asante insists Ghana will carry no pressure into Tuesday’s World Cup showdown with England at Boston Stadium, saying the team’s self-belief and sense of purpose outweigh outside expectations.
Brandon provided a 95th minute assist that helped Ghana beat Panama 1-0 in Toronto.
The win left both Ghana and England level on three points in Group L following the Three Lions 4-2 over Croatia in their opening match.
Speaking to ghanafa.org Thomas-Asante is adamant that external doubt only fuels the squad.
“Everything to the best ability, it’s very much a case of we back ourselves, we believe in ourselves. Whether people on the outside doubt us, believe us, or anything that’s not what we think about. We think about why we’re here. We’re on a mission,” Thomas-Asante said.
The Coventry City forward said that mission removes any weight of expectation. “That means there’s no pressure. It’s even less pressure for us,” he explained.
“We know our fans believe, but we know that some people might want to overlook us. We use that to our advantage preparing properly and believing that we can go and do something,” He added.
England and Ghana both sit on three points heading into the Foxborough clash, with the winner set to take control of Group L. Kickoff at Boston Stadium on Tuesday.
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