Sports
Medeama to give Kotoko hard time
League leaders Asante Kotoko’s clash against fourth-placed Medeama at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow, will headline a weekend of mouth-watering fixtures as the Ghana Premier League (GPL) enters its 14th week.
The ‘Porcupine Warriors’ will be seeking to entrench their grip at the league’s summit and a swift return to their four-game winning run that was halted by their 0-0 stalemate against Berekum Chelsea at Berekum in their last outing.
Leading the charge on 27 points and a fragile three points separating them from second-placed Aduana Stars, the homeside need a win to maintain a significance distance away from the chasing pack with only a two-point gap between Aduana and fifth-placed Bechem United.
Revenge would be firmly planted on the minds of the Porcupine Warriors after they imploded against the ‘Mauve and Yellows’ to suffer a 2-1 loss in their home encounter at the Len Clay Stadium against the visitors last season.
Despite losing influential midfielder Justice Blay to Kotoko this month after his contract ended with Medeama, they will rely on their impressive results on the road – winning two, drawing two and losing two out of six – to stun the homeside for the second time at their backyard in two seasons.
At Aiyinase today, league champions Hearts of Oak will continue their resurgence against Karela United at the CAM Park.
The Phobians have steadily improved and currently lie sixth after a rocky start and would be gunning for their first win at the CAM Park after drawing two and losing two in four meetings at the venue.
However, the ‘Passion and Pride’ boys wont be easy push-overs as they are yet to lose at their fortress, winning three and drawing three in six encounters.
In other games on Sunday, eight-placed Great Olympics face suprise package King Faisal, who lie third at the Accra Sports Stadium, high-flying Bechem United welcome wobbling WAFA to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park whilst Legon Cities play as guests of Gold Stars at the Dun’s Park.
Other games would witness bottom-placed Elmina Sharks attempt to bite 14th-placed Berekum Chelsea at the Nduom Stadium; Eleven Wonders confront Real Tamale United (RTU) at the Techiman Nana Ameyaw Park whilst in today’s other game, Accra Lions will collide with tottering Ashantigold.
On Monday, Dreams will play a crunch game against second-placed Aduana Stars.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
Officials from the Ghana mission in the United Arab Emirates have paid a morale-boosting visit to the camp of the Black Queens.
The delegation, made up of Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto, Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai and Head of Transport Anas Shaibu, visited the team to assure them of the government’s support and commitment to their safety and welfare.
During the visit, the officials interacted with the team and offered words of encouragement, urging the team to remain focused on the tournament despite concerns surrounding unrest in parts of the UAE.
Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto emphasised that the Ghanaian government, through its diplomatic mission, is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring the team’s safety throughout their stay.
“We want the team to stay calm and focus on the competition. The government and the embassy are doing everything possible to ensure your safety and well-being.” he said.
Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai also reiterated the mission’s readiness to provide any assistance required by the team during the tournament.
Leadership of the team expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and motivating.
With the backing of Ghana’s diplomatic officials in the UAE, the Black Queens remain determined to represent the country proudly and deliver strong performances in the Pink Ladies Cup.
The Black Queens have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the upcoming Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai. The team touched down at the Dubai International Airport via Emirates Air on Wednesday morning and were warmly received by the competition’s organising officials.
The squad will be based at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, where they will begin their final preparations for the tournament. Organised as part of the international women’s football calendar, the Pink Ladies Cup is expected to feature four national sides using the competition to assess their squads and fine-tune strategies for upcoming tournaments.
Ghana will open their campaign today with a clash against Hong Kong, while Russia and Tanzania face off in the other opening match.
The Black Queens are then scheduled to return to action on March 3, when they take on Russia in a match expected to test them against a physically strong opponent.
The final round of games will be played on March 6, with Ghana closing their campaign against Tanzania at 9:00 pm.
With three matches in eight days, the tournament promises to be a crucial phase in Ghana’s preparation, as the Black Queens aim to return to continental action sharper, stronger, and more competitive.
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