Sports
RTU dare Hearts in fiery Tamale cracker
• Manaf Umar – RTU’s attacking midfielder
The Aliu Mahama Stadium will come to a standstill tomorrow when Real Tamale United (RTU) host Hearts of Oak to a cagey encounter in a scorching betPawa Premier League match-day 16 tie.
The hosts, who succumbed to an embarrassing 6-2 defeat to Bechem United on Wednesday, would have to appease their fans and get back to winning ways.
RTU have won six of their seven games on home soil, losing 1-0 to Medeama SC on match-day 3, which gives the team huge boost of replicating their home dominance over Hearts.
With the exit of skipper David Abagna Sandan to Sudanese club Al Hilal, the likes of Manaf Umar, Issah Kuka, Mohammed Sadat and Stephen Badu have been instrumental in RTU’s resurgence and would ensure they give Hearts a run for their money.
Hearts were held to a pulsating 0-0 goalless draw by Legon Cities in the Accra derby in midweek, a result which has left the fans still in big doubt as to whether their sweat merchant – Slavko Matic, could turn things around.
The Phobians have managed only a win in their last four outings against Medeama SC – with all three ending in draws against King Faisal, Samartex and Legon Cities.
The likes of Kojo Obeng Jnr, Eric Esso, Samuel Inkoom, Caleb Amankwah, Amankwah Baafi and new inclusion Linda Mtange have been an integral part of Hearts progress – and with the return of Suraj Seidu, Gladson Awako and Dennis Korsah, the Phobians stand the favourite.
League leaders Aduana Stars will hope to continue their fine form when they welcome Nsoatreman at the Nana Agyeman Badu I Park tomorrow.
It will be a battle for survival when two struggling clubs – Tamale City lock horns with bottom-placed Kotoku Royals at the Aliu Mahama Stadium today.
In other games, second-placed Bechem United will battle Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park tomorrow, while impressive Goldstars welcome poor-performing Karela United to the Dun’s Park same day.
At the Accra Sports Stadium, Great Olympics will face Dreams FC while new entrants Nsoatreman take on Medeama SC.
On Monday, reigning champions, Asante Kotoko will have a tough hurdle to cross when they welcome Accra Lions to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium at Kumasi.
By Linus Siaw Nartey
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.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the dates for the qualifiers of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
The qualifiers will run from September 2026 to March 2027, with the final tournament set for June 19 to July 17, 2027. Ghana will know their group opponents after the draw on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Forty-eight (48) teams will be split into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the competition.
The 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in three East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Find the dates for the qualifiers below:
