Sports
Kotoko dare not fail against Medeama
Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s quest to maintain the top spot will face a huge test today when they face Medeama SC in their crunch Week 21 fixture of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) at the Len Clay Sports Stadium.
The Porcupine Warriors would be hoping to bounce back to winning ways after earning a point against Accra Great Olympics in their last encounter, to consolidate their lead on the table.
With just two points separating the two sides, coupled with the pressure from others in the top five including Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics, Kotoko cannot afford to drop points in today’s encounter, considering its impact on their title ambitions.
What could work for the Porcupine Warriors, however, would be their newly found rhythm under Coach Mariano Barreto who seems to be building a solid team to face such challenges.
The Portuguese and former Black Stars coach has managed to pick seven points from his first three games and looks forward to another win today.
Gladly, Kotoko would welcome the return of the Brazilian playmaker, Fabio Gama who missed the game against Olympics for card accumulation and would be expected create the chances for his countryman Michael Vinicius Silva da Morais and Emmanuel Gyamfi to score.
Medeama would, however, lament the absence of their key midfielder, Justice Blay who suffered a season-ending injury in their game against Legon Cities.
That, notwithstanding, Medeama is still formidable with the likes of Kwesi Donsu, Prince Opoku Agyeman, Ahmed Toure, Rashid Nortey, Vincent Atinga and Zakaria Mumuni in the squad to be paraded by Yaw Preko.
Medeama had the edge over Kotoko with a 1-0 win at home in the first round in January and knowing the possibility of dislodging Kotoko at the apex, the Mauve and Yellows would go all out to upset the Porcupines.
Another encounter that could shake the top four positions would be at the Cosby Awuah Memorial Park where Karela host Hearts tomorrow.
Third-placed Hearts would be away to fifth-placed Karela who are desperate to return to the summit.
Hearts could also move on top of the table with a win, depending on results from their rival’s Kotoko and Olympics encounters – an opportunity they would grab with both hands.
Their first round encounter also ended in a goalless draw and both sides would be looking forward to walking away with the three points.
Title contenders Olympics would square off with Ebusua Dwarfs at Cape Coast in search for win in three games.
Olympics have enjoyed an incredible run so far and occupied the top spot in the process but unable to find wins in their last two games, losing to Legon Cities and sharing the spoils with Kotoko.
The Dade Boys would fancy a win against Dwarfs to put their top four and possibly their title race back on track.
Elsewhere, Liberty Professionals would go all out for the three points to move above the relegation zone when they host Berekum Chelsea at Dansoman in another cagey encounter.
AshantiGold would host Bechem United at the Len Clay Stadium tomorrow while the Red Bull Arena at Sogakope would host WAFA and Eleven Wonders in another mouthwatering encounter.
Legon Cities would hope to avoid a second defeat in a row when they face Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium in another tough fixture.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu Park at Dormaa, Aduana Stars would clash with Elmina Sharks while Inter Allies face off with King Faisal at Dawu.
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.
