Football

Liberia 1-0 Sao Tome and Principe: Late Sesay strike secures vital win

Liberia secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Sao Tome and Principe on Sunday in Group H of their 2026 World Cup qualifier, courtesy of a late goal by Sheikh Sesay.

The win, in the first match of Matchday 4 of the qualifiers, moves the Lone Star to third in the group with seven points, while Sao Tome and Principe remain at the bottom without any points after four matches.

The first half saw both teams struggle to find a breakthrough, with few clear-cut chances created. Sao Tome and Principe’s Denilson Silva was booked for a foul just before halftime, which ended goalless.

The second half continued in a similar vein, with Liberia making several substitutions to inject fresh energy into their side.

Peter Wilson and William Gibson were brought on early in the half to replace Lawrence Kumeh and Sheku Sheriff, respectively.

As the match progressed, it seemed destined for a draw, with both teams battling hard but unable to convert their efforts into goals.

Sao Tome and Principe also made several substitutions, bringing on Eba Viegas and João Silva to replace Rogério Fernandes and Mauro Vilhete.

In the 89th minute, Sao Tome and Principe’s João Silva received a yellow card for a foul, highlighting the physical nature of the contest.

Liberia then made a decisive change, bringing on Sheikh Sesay for Terry Sackor.

The substitution proved to be a masterstroke. In the 90th minute, Sesay found himself in the right place at the right time, slotting a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the goal, giving Liberia a dramatic late lead.

Despite a late push from Sao Tome and Principe, Liberia held on to secure the three points.

This victory propels Liberia to third place in Group H, ahead of their next match, while Sao Tome and Principe will need to regroup after another disappointing result.

Second-placed Namibia will host group leaders Tunisia later on Sunday in a top-of-the-table clash, while Equatorial Guinea and Malawi are set to face off in the other Group H match on Monday.

World Cup 2026Q: Ghana coach Otto Addo expects ‘difficult’ game against CAR

Ghana coach Otto Addo is expecting a ‘difficult’ encounter against the Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Black Stars beat Mali 2-1 in Bamako and are hoping to replicate that result against CAR at the Baba Yara Stadium on Monday at 19:00 GMT.

However, Addo remains wary of the visitors.

“It’s going to be very difficult. For everyone who thinks we can just play them, I don’t think it will happen,” he said at the pre-match conference.

“They’re doing well, especially in the offensive transitions. They’re very dangerous; they showed that in the 1-1 draw against Mali.” The Black Stars sit third in Group I with six points, and a win will be a real shot in the arm in their quest to qualify for the global showpiece.

Ghana vs Mali: Otto Addo begins Black Stars rebuilding with crucial Bamako test

Otto Addo’s Black Stars rebuild begins tonight in Bamako.

Despite training for only five days, the Black Stars coach sounded confident in Tuesday’s press conference.

“Surely, I think we are ready for the game. I am very satisfied with how the players understood how we want to play,” he said. “This is going to be a tough match away in Mali but we also have the quality to compete against them although we didn’t have a good AFCON.

“We have the players to get three points from Mali.” He concluded.

His optimism, while encouraging, was strange. Strange because of the current state of affairs.

The players Otto Addo mentioned are not as good as he says at least not in the context of their Black Stars performances.

In 2024, Ghana is yet to win any football match, competitive or friendly.

Ghana started the year with an abysmal 0-0 draw with Namibia in an Africa Cup of Nations preparatory match. At the tournament itself, the Stars lost to Cape Verde (2-1), drew with Egypt (2-2) and drew with Mozambique (2-2).

Post-AFCON 2023, Ghana’s malaise has continued. A 2-1 loss to Nigeria was followed by a 2-2 draw with Uganda in Marrakech. Those were Otto Addo’s first two games in charge.

In the past five years, Ghana has failed to beat teams like Madagascar, Angola, the Central African Republic, and Comoros – twice, first in the 2021 AFCON and last year in the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers.

AFCON-wise, Ghana has won only one match; 2-0 over Guinea Bissau, across the last three tournaments.
Moreover, Ghana has not won a match at the AFCON in a run stretching back to 2019 against Guinea-Bissau.

When Otto Addo announced his squad last week, he reminded Ghanaians that he ought to fix the team’s broken culture, and work ethic, and build cohesiveness.

But for his oath of secrecy, Otto Addo could have explained the extent of the cultural decay in the Black Stars. He kept quiet in keeping to himself. That is a position I am happy to take.

What should not be hidden or downplayed, is the extent of work that needs to be done. Cohesiveness is not forged in a day. Or in five training sessions.

It takes time.

By 2026, Otto Addo would have managed eleven competitive matches as Black Stars coach; the eight remaining World Qualifiers, and three AFCON 2025 group stage games.

At the moment, he has yet to coach a competitive game since returning. The five training sessions are all there is to draw from.

‘You won’t win GPL title without your own stadium’ – Bashir Hayford tells Kotoko, Hearts

Veteran coach and current Heart of Lions manager, Bashir Hayford, has advised Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak to build their own stadiums or risk facing difficulties in winning the Ghana Premier League.

The country’s two most prominent clubs have historically used government-owned infrastructure — Accra Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Stadium — as their home venues.

Both clubs have secured just one Premier League title each since 2014.

“As Ghanaians, we must learn to tell the truth, it will be very difficult for teams who do not have their own stadium facility to win the league,” he said in an interview with Akoma FM.

“Kotoko and Hearts of Oak don’t play at their own venues, but the likes of Samatex, Nsoatreman and Bechem all play at their own stadium facility. When you travel to these privately owned facilities, you really go through a lot of intimidation and the referees can’t be independent.

“Your chances of winning at such private venues are very slim, unlike the state-owned venues like Accra and Kumasi where security is assured and level playing grounds exist for all competing teams. Hearts and Kotoko must get their own stadium, otherwise winning the league will become difficult.”

With six games to, Samartex are seven points clear on top of the Ghana Premier League table with 52 points.

2023/24 Ghana Premier League: Week 28 Match Preview – Samartex vs Great Olympics

Ghana Premier League leaders Samartex aim to widen their lead at the top as they face Great Olympics in a crucial encounter on Saturday.

Coming off a defeat to Asante Kotoko last Sunday, Samartex are poised to intensify their defensive efforts, having conceded goals in their last three consecutive matches. The coach and players are expected to put in extra effort to shore up their defence and return to winning ways.

Meanwhile, Great Olympics enter the fixture following two consecutive draws against Nsoatreman and Bechem United.

The team have struggled defensively, conceding goals in their last five consecutive matches, adding psychological pressure as they aim to turn their fortunes around.

Samartex and Great Olympics have previously faced off three times since October 2022, with all matches ending in draws.

Their most recent encounter on November 20, 2023, concluded in a goalless draw.

Remarkably, neither Samartex nor Great Olympics have managed to score a goal in their three head-to-head matches, resulting in an almost identical record between the two teams in recent history.

Iwobi, Bassey unable to get past Eagles as Fulham draw in Premier League

Fulham played out a 1-1 draw at home against Crystal Palace with Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey staring for the hosts

Crystal Palace’s impressive run under Oliver Glasner faced a stern test as they travelled to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham, aiming to extend their winning streak to four matches.

The visitors asserted their dominance in the opening stages of the match, with Michael Olise proving to be a key figure. The Frenchman had an effort saved and delivered a tempting cross that Chris Richards failed to capitalise on.

However, Fulham gradually grew into the encounter and could have taken the lead before halftime when Issa Diop missed a headed opportunity.

Fulham managed to break the deadlock shortly after halftime. A cross from Timothy Castagne found Rodrigo Muniz, who powered a header past the Palace defence to give Fulham the lead.

Despite falling behind, Palace pushed for an equaliser but were almost caught out on the counter-attack, with Bobby DeCordova Reid missing a chance to extend Fulham’s lead.

As the match progressed, Palace piled on the pressure. Bernd Leno made a crucial save, and Fulham had to block another attempt from the dangerous Olise. However, Palace’s persistence paid off as Jeffrey Schlupp came off the bench to score an excellent goal, securing a deserved point for his side.

In the end, neither Alex Iwobi nor Calvin Bassey could break through the resilient Eagles defense as Fulham settled for a draw in the Premier League encounter.

CAFCL: Al Ahly set up historic final with ES Tunis

Defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt have become the first club to reach five consecutive CAF Champions League finals after they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 on Friday to set up a meeting with Esperance of Tunisia.

Al Ahly, who have won five of the last seven editions and a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Cairo and Esperance pulled off a surprise 1-0 win over South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria.

Al Ahly won 3-0 after a goalless draw in the first leg in Lubumbashi for a comfortable aggregate triumph while Esperance’s 20-year-old defender Raed Bouchniba hammered home a clinical shot in the 57th minute to earn the Tunisians a 1-0 away win and 2-0 aggregate victory.

The match was delayed by 70 minutes after a lightning strike in South Africa’s capital knocked out some of the floodlights amid a heavy thunderstorm.

Sundowns won the new African Football League this season and were one of the favourites for the Champions League but fell short of the final for an eighth season in a row.

Esperance’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Amanallah Memmich produced fine saves as the South African forwards fluffed their lines and the win also ensured a place for Esperance in next year’s Club World Cup in the U.S.

Al Ahly took until the 68th minute to break the deadlock against Mazembe when defender Mohamed Abdel-Moneim scored.

Wessam Abou Ali added a second in the 83rd minute, stretching out his leg to apply a clever finish and Akram Tawfiq confirmed their superiority with a stoppage-time third.

Esperance host the first leg of the final on May 18 with the return in Cairo seven days later.

Esperance won the last of their four Champions League titles in 2019 and have been runners-up four times.

CAFCC: “Dreams need to score early to unsettle Zamalek” – Former Zamalek striker Felix Aboagye

Former Zamalek SC forward, Felix Aboagye, has cautioned Dreams FC to score an early goal in their CAF Confederation Cup fixture against the Egyptian side at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday, April 28.

Dreams FC secured a draw at the Cairo International Stadium after the heroics of Solomon Agbasi proved vital to prevent Zamalek from scoring in the first leg.

Karim Zito’s side are far-advanced in the competition despite their inconsistent performance in the Ghana Premier League.

Ahead of the crucial second leg against Zamalek, Aboagye, who played for Zamalek during his career, has emphasized the need for the Ghanaian side to have an early edge over the Egyptians.

“Arab clubs, when they play away, are strategically strong. Zamalek is pushing hard to score an early goal,” said the former Ghana international in an interview with Joy Sports.

“Dreams FC in their last match played in Ghana, they conceded the first goal before coming back to win. Against Zamalek, they can’t afford that. They need to work very hard and score early to unsettle Zamalek.”

The match is slated to kick off at 16:00 GMT at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Mo Salah, Liverpool suffer another Hammer blow in PL title race

Mohamed Salah was benched as Liverpool dropped further points in the title race at West Ham United.

Liverpool‘s Premier League title aspirations suffered another setback on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Ham United at the London Stadium.

In a surprising move, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp opted to bench star striker Mohamed Salah, a decision which raised eyebrows among the Liverpool faithful.

Klopp’s decision to leave Salah, the club’s top scorer, on the bench for the crucial encounter will undoubtedly be the subject of much debate in the coming days.

The Liverpool manager will be under pressure to explain his team selection, especially given both individuals were spotted having a heated argument and the Reds’ recent struggles to maintain their early-season form.

With Manchester City and Arsenal already ahead and with games in hand now, the pressure is firmly on Liverpool to rediscover their winning touch if they are to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League crown.

As the title race heats up, Klopp and his players will need to regroup and find a way to bounce back from this latest setback, with the team’s reliance on Salah’s goalscoring prowess now under the spotlight.

Mohammed Kudus gets 5th Premier League assist as West Ham hold Liverpool

Ghana international Mohammed Kudus registered his fifth Premier League assist of the season in West Ham United’s game against Liverpool on Saturday.

The midfielder teed up Jarrod Bowen for his 20th goal of the season as the Hammers and the Reds played out a 2-2 draw at the London Stadium.

West Ham grabbed the lead in the 43rd minute when the Englishman headed into the net a cross from Kudus to open the scoring.

ut the visitors were much improved in the second half and Andy Robertson equalised when he scored from Luis Diaz’s low pass into the penalty area.

They were then rewarded for their pressure when Cody Gakpo’s effort from a corner ricocheted off Angelo Ogbonna, Tomas Soucek and Alphonse Areola before finding the back of the net.

It looked like they were on their way to bouncing back from back-to-back defeats in the league until Antonio’s thumping header put the Hammers back on level terms.

Liverpool sit third in the table with three games remaining, two points behind leaders Arsenal, who face Tottenham on Sunday, while Manchester City are second but have two games in hand.

With his contribution against Jurgen Klopp’s side, Kudus has now been directly involved in 12 league goals, scoring seven and setting up five.