Sports
Premier League:Gold Stars FC storm to top; Kotoko smash Vison; Hearts of Lions shocked at home
Gold Stars FC stormed to the top of the Premier League with a sensational 3-0 win at Accra Lions on Sunday January 19, 2025.
The visitors were at their very best as they run riot against the struggling Premier League side to leapfrog Heart of Lions at the top of the table.
Samuel Attah Kumi bagged a remarkable hat-trick to hand the Miners their biggest away win of the season and their 9th in total so far this term. He scored in the 14th, 44th and 46th minute as the visitors recorded the heavy win at the WAF Park in Sogakope.
Kwame Opoku bagged a brace for Asante Kotoko as they thumped Vision FC 4-1 to move within touching distance of leaders Gold Stars FC.
Opoku opened the scoring as early as the 6th minute before Nana Akwesi Amoah pulled parity for the visitors in the 22nd minute.
Peter Amidu restored Kotoko’s lead with the second goal before Kwame Opoku added the third in the 37th minute. Saaka Dauda completed the rout with the fourth goal in the 44th minute.
Kotoko are now third with 31 points, just two adrift of leaders Bibiani Gold Stars FC. Vision FC lie 11th in the table with 19 points.
Defending champions FC Samartex 1996 drew goalless with Hearts of Oak at home on Sunday.
The two teams failed to break each other down as they shared the points at the Nsenkyire Arena.
Hearts have dropped to 5th while Samartex find themselves in mid-table.
Nations FC dented Heart of Lions’ Premier League title charge after recording a 1-0 win at the Kpando Stadium.
Di Boris Djangone scored the decisive goal in the 82nd minute to separate the two teams. This is Lions’ first defeat at home this season as they are leapfrogged at the top by Gold Stars FC.
Heart of Lions have slipped to fourth while Nations jump to second in the Premier League table.
Eric Osei Bonsu scored from the spot to give Nsoatreman FC a vital 1-0 win over Karela United at home on Sunday.
Osei Bonsu scored the decisive goal in the 52nd minute to give Yaw Preko’s side a respite after a turbulent 2024-25 campaign.
Karela United have dropped into the bottom three while Nsoatreman have jumped to 12th in the league table.
Berekum Chelsea left it late to record a 2-1 win over Medeama SC in a dramatic Premier League game on Sunday.
Stephen Amankona opened the scoring for the home side in the first half before Yussif Mubarik pulled parity for the visitors through the spot kick six minute into injury time.
However, captain Zackaria Fuseini stole the headlines when he scored the winner with the last kick of the ball.
Basake Holy Stars shared the spoils with Aduana FC in an entertaining 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Fire Club went ahead in the first half before Bismark Teye pulled parity in the 86th minute at the Ampain AAK Arena.
Legon Cities thrashed Dreams FC 3-0 at home on Sunday to continue their push for survival.
Goals from Fredrick Akatuk, Frank Akoto and Kabu Agyemang Raymond condemned Dreams to their 7th defeat of the season.
The Royals remain in the bottom three while Dreams FC are just above the drop zone.
Bechem United continued their fine performances in the Premier League with a solid 0-0 stalemate at Young Apostles in the Bono derby on Sunday.
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.
