Communications Director, Asante Kotoko, Safro Duku, believes his side is capable of beating Wydad Athletic Club.
The Ghanaian powerhouse will face the Moroccan giants in the next round of the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round of games.
Kotoko progressed to the second round with a 5-3 aggregate scoreline against Nigerian side Kwara United.
Speaking in an interview following the arrival of the team in Ghana, Sarfo Duku stressed that Kotoko is not scared of facing Wydad.
“We have history against Wydad Athletic Club,” he told Asempa FM.
“We have played against them twice, and we were just unlucky, and for me, this year is a revival for Asante Kotoko, and I am confident we can overcome WAC,” he added.
The first leg tie is scheduled for 17th and 19th October, with the second leg scheduled for 24th and 26th October.
Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko will now turn their attention to the Ghana Premier League, where they will host Heart of Lions in the Matchday 4 games at the Baba Yara Stadium
Head coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, Abdul Karim Zito believes that a “changed” approach got his team to qualify to the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup at the expense of Nigeria’s Kwara United.
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Kotoko beat Kwara 1-0 with Hubert Gyau scoring the lone goal in the game to give Kotoko a 5-3 win on aggregate after winning the first leg in Accra 4-3.
“A lot changed because…we saw the space and time [in the first leg] we gave to them so we worked on that. We know majority of them are senior players, they are not young like my players so when we closed the space and we denied them…they couldn’t play us.”
Kotoko will take on Wydad Athletic in the next round of the CONFED Cup with the first leg scheduled to take place on October 18 in Ghana.
The Fifa Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (Safa) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the Fifa World Cup 2026™ preliminary competition, thereby breaching article 19 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the Fifa World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition Regulations.
Consequently, the Fifa Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question to have been forfeited by the representative team of South Africa by a score of 3-0.
Safa has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10 000 (R216,500) to Fifa, while Teboho Mokoena has been issued with a warning.
The parties were notified of the terms of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee’s decision yesterday. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have 10 days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the Fifa Appeal Committee.
Los Blancos saw off Marseille in their Champions League opener, while Kairat fell to a 4-1 defeat in their matchday one clash against Sporting Lisbon.
Kairat Almaty are participating in the Champions League main draw for the first time after successfully negotiating their way through qualifying.
However, the Kazakhstan Premier League champions were given a brutal reality check in their matchday one clash against Sporting Lisbon, which saw Edmilson score a consolation goal in a 4-1 victory.
Xabi Alonso made an impressive start to his first campaign as Real Madrid boss, seeing his side win their opening seven competitive matches, including a 2-1 victory over Marseille on matchday one of the Champions League league phase.
Los Blancos followed that result with a 2-0 win over Espanyol and a commanding 4-1 victory over Levante, ensuring they carried significant momentum into Saturday’s derby clash with Atletico Madrid.
However, just 90 minutes later, Real Madrid were left reeling after slumping to a surprise 5-2 loss against their local rivals.
To rub salt into Real Madrid’s wounds, they lost their grip on top spot and are now one point behind their arch-rivals, Barcelona, who clinched a narrow win over Real Sociedad to take full advantage of the Madrid derby result.
Real Madrid will be desperate to right the wrongs of Saturday’s derby defeat, and while they may be contending with a defensive injury crisis, we think they will have far too much quality for their hosts, which will see them cruise to a comfortable victory in Kazakhstan.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Marseille and Ajax seek their first points
Meeting in a Champions League fixture for the first time in over 50 years, Marseille and Ajax will seek their first points of the competition this season when they square off on Tuesday at the Stade Velodrome.
On matchday one, Marseille were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Real Madrid, while the Dutch side lost 2-0 at home to last season’s runners-up Inter.
Marseille have not won their opening home match in the group portion of this tournament since 2011.
Mason Greenwood, Marseille
Defensively, they have struggled in Champions League fixtures, conceding in 21 of their last 22 matches in this competition, but have posted a clean sheet in two successive Ligue 1 home contests, shutting out Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique last Monday.
In their last five meetings with Ajax, Marseille are undefeated, winning a thriller 4-3 the last time they met at the Stade Velodrome in a 2023 Europa League fixture, with the winner coming in second-half stoppage time.
Ajax have a 100% record against Marseille in this tournament, having come from behind to beat them 2-1 in their only previous visit to the Velodrome in 1971, with the legendary Johan Cruyff netting the winner.
Marseille were unlucky to come away with nothing on matchday one, but that should propel them to a win versus an Ajax side that are still finding themselves under new management.
The 62-year-old takes charge of his first UCL game for the Eagles at his former headquarters, where both the hosts and the visitors seek to get off the mark in Europe at the second attempt.
Despite already winning every UEFA honour that is there to be won – a feat that no other club in Europe can shout about – Chelsea’s quest to become kings of the continent for a third time started on the wrong foot against their 2012 final foes Bayern Munich.
The latter’s unintentional villain arc against Chelsea continued in Premier League action at the weekend, where his early second-half red card triggered a barnstorming Brighton comeback in West London, as Enzo Maresca‘s men slumped to a 3-1 loss to the Danny Welbeck-inspired Seagulls.
Losing three of their last four games, winning just one of their last five – against lower-league Lincoln City in the EFL Cup – and already grappling with an absentee crisis, the Club World Cup champions are arguably now counting the cost of their success in the United States over the summer.
The same cannot be said for upcoming opponents Benfica, whose final game under head coach Bruno Lage ended in a shock 3-2 home loss to Qarabag in catastrophic fashion.
Benfica board have now placed their faith in a familiar face, Mourinho.
The former Chelsea head coach has overseen two wins and a draw from his first three Primeira Liga games at the helm, including a 2-1 comeback victory over Gil Vicente on Saturday, but history suggests that the Special One’s homecoming will not be a happy one.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Galatasaray welcome Liverpool to RAMS Park
Liverpool must bounce back in the Champions League on Tuesday against hosts Galatasaray at RAMS Park after they were beaten in the Premier League against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Galatasaray Boss Okan Buruk will also be confident that his side can find the back of the net on Tuesday given they have scored at least two goals in nine of their 11 most recent European outings at home.
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Galatasaray have won all three of their home fixtures this campaign, scoring on nine occasions while only conceding twice in that time.
Liverpool have been leaky at the back in 2025-26, conceding two goals in four of their eight games this season while only keeping two clean sheets.
Arne Slot‘s side have at least been productive in the final third, scoring at least two goals in five of their eight fixtures.
If striker Osimhen is at the top of his game, then it would not be surprising if he caused the Reds’ backline serious problems, and perhaps Slot will have to settle for a point.
Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has inaugurated an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the revival of professional boxing in the country, following what he described as a worrying decline in standards and safety.
Speaking at the Ministry’s Conference Room on yesterday, Kofi Adams noted that the formation of the committee marks “a pivotal turning point” in restoring integrity, professionalism and athlete welfare in the sport. He also added that the future of Ghana Boxing depends on our collective effort.
Ghana, once revered globally for producing world champions such as Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Joshua Clottey and Jospeh Agbeko has seen its boxing fortunes dwindle in recent years. Poor performances in international bouts, allegations of unprofessional conduct and lack of proper medical protocols have dented the country’s boxing reputation.
The Minister referenced the tragic death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, during a fight at the Bukom Boxing Arena as a wake-up call for urgent reforms.
The newly inaugurated IMCwill assume sweeping responsibilities, including sanctioning bouts, restructuring the Professional Boxing Association of Ghana, implementing stricter medical and doping controls and ensuring improved insurance and safety for athletes.
“You will also facilitate the transition from amateur to professional boxing, restructure the Professional Boxing Association and ensure the welfare and safety of all participants through improved insurance, training, and medical standards”, he lamented.
Mr. Adams also tasked the committee with introducing transparent election processes within the industry, fostering sports tourism and attracting investment to make Ghana competitive again on the world stage.
“This effort to reform Ghana Boxing transcends personalities it is about safeguarding the future of our sport and restoring its rightful place on the international stage” he stated. The Minister also assured that his office is committed to re-establishing professionalism of the sport, ensuring the safety of athletes, and also earning back the respect of the global boxing community.
Kofi Adams urged the committee to embrace the responsibility given to them in good faith and do their best possible in maintaining the image of the sport.
The following are the committee members inaugurated by the Minister for Sports and Recreationto help restore the image of Ghana Boxing;
SamirCaptan (Chairman)
Azumah Nelson (Special Technical Advisor, Boxing Icon)
OTHER MEMBERS:
Gen. (RTD) I.B. Quartey (Veteran Boxing Administrator)
Nii Akwei Bruce Thompson Esq. (Editor of the Supreme Court of Ghana Law Reports)
Eric Tetteh Ayertey (Internationally Accredited Ringside Doctor, APBC)
Ofori Asare (Veteran Boxing Trainer & Multi Title Winning Coach)
Lester Nii Armah Kwarteng (Financial Consultant, Boxing Promoter and Investor)
Nathaniel Attoh (Media & Communication Expert)
COORDINATING TEAM:
Patrick Johnson – the current GBA Secretary General will act as Secretary to Committee.
Gidoen H.K. Oyiadzo – Projects & Branding Consultant and Organizing Secretary for Boxing Promoters Association of Ghana will act as the Committee’s Spokesperson and Coordinator.
Prince Azanu – National Anti-Doping Officer for the National Sports Authority (NSA) will act as Stakeholder Liaison for Athlete Welfare and Technical Advisor on Anti- Doping Reform.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has announced that the 2025 Enlistment and Recruitment Exercise will begin in the coming days. This year’s process will be conducted across all sixteen regional capitals, ensuring that eligible and interested Ghanaians throughout the country have equal access and opportunity to participate.
According to a statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces, the official announcement of the recruitment exercise will be made through the GAF’s authorized communication channels. These include the official websites of the Ghana Armed Forces — [www.gafonline.mil.gh](http://www.gafonline.mil.gh) and [www.gafrecruitment.mil.gh] (http://www.gafrecruitment.mil.gh) — as well as established national newspapers such as the Daily Graphic and the Ghanaian Times.
The statement also strongly cautioned the general public against relying on recruitment advertisements found on social media platforms. It noted that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and similar channels have become avenues for the spread of false recruitment information. The Ghana Armed Forces emphasized that any links or messages shared through these platforms, especially those claiming to offer “protocol recruitment” or guaranteed placement, are fraudulent and should be disregarded.
Additionally, the GAF made it clear that no member of the Armed Forces or its High Command is authorized to issue personal recruitment invitations. Any such messages or offers purporting to come from military personnel should be treated as scams.
The Ghana Armed Forces is appealing to the public to cooperate fully by seeking accurate information through only its official channels. This, it says, is vital in safeguarding the integrity of the recruitment process and protecting prospective applicants from fraud.
Further information and updates on the recruitment process will be published exclusively on the GAF’s official platforms and in trusted national newspapers.
Nene Amanatey Korle III, the Chief of Bedeku, with his clans men and women in a group picture
The four-member panel of the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs has pronounced the Amanatey Korle family of Bedeku as the rightful heir to the throne.
The about seven-page unanimous decision of the Judicial Committee, read before both claimants – the Amanateys and Sogborjors – in open court, shot down the earlier judgement by a three-member adjudicating committee of the Ada Traditional Council, which ruled that Nene Amadeku Ahuahey II from the Sogborjor Family is the rightful heir to the Bedeku stool in East Ada.
Relying on the cross-examinations and evidence before it and making references to judgments of similar judicial cases in higher courts in Ghana, Magistrate Alexander Essien said the Ada Traditional Council erred in its 2020 ruling, especially when the Amanateys, since the Gold Coast era, have been choosing candidates for the Bedeku stool, without any protest from any quarters until 2020.
Further to that, the Judicial Committee, in its judgement, said until 2020 when the Sogborjors introduced Nene Amadeku Ahuahey II as the chief of Bedeku to the Ada Paramountcy, Nene Amanatey Korle III had been the chief of Bedeku since 1987, with evidence that the Sogborjors paid homage to him.
The Judicial Committee said given the evidence available to it and the outcome of the cross-examinations by both claimants, particularly with the defendants not disputing in cross-examination that the Amanateys have been choosing candidates for the Bedeku stool since the Gold Coast era, though they (defendants) later argued that the appellant’s role was only a herdsman, the Amanateys’ entitlement is undisputed.
Glad with the judgement by the Judicial Committee, Paa Joy Ekuamoah Boateng, the counsel for the appellants, told the Committee to waive cost for the sake of the peace at Bedeku and East Ada.
Jakob Linulf, Danish Ambassador to Ghana, with Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr., CEO of Margins ID Group.
The Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Jakob Linulf, has commended Margins ID Group for positioning Ghana as a continental leader in digital transformation through the Ghana Card project.
The Danish and Margins officials entering the premises of the company
During a stakeholder engagement at Intelligent Card Production Systems (ICPS) in Accra on Thursday, September 25, 2025 Ambassador Linulf described the Ghana Card as “a major achievement” that is setting the pace for other African nations.
Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr., CEO of Margins ID Group (right), explaining a process to Jakob Linulf, Danish Ambassador to Ghana, during a tour of the ICPS factory.
He praised Margins’ global reputation in identity solutions, noting that “the company is in a different league compared to many ID providers in Africa.”
The Danish delegation being taken through some production processes during the ICPS factory tour.
The visit comes as countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and The Gambia, move to replicate Ghana’s model in building national identity systems to support economic growth and digital governance.
“Margins ID Group is famous in Denmark and you should take great pride in your achievements. You have our support,” the Ambassador said after touring the factory with Jørgen Østergård Bollesen, Head of Trade, and Linda KafuiAbbah-Foli, Commercial Advisor at the Danish Embassy.
Margins ID Group officials briefing the Danish delegation ahead of the ICPS factory tour
Margins CEO, Moses Kwesi Baiden Jr., reaffirmed the company’s commitment to innovation and collaboration, stressing that Ghana will continue to be a model for Africa’s digital future.
A group photograph of the Danish Embassy delegation with officials of Margins ID Group at the ICPS factory.
“Together, we will innovate, expand and deliver secure identification solutions that meet the evolving needs of Africa and beyond,” Mr.Baiden stated.
From a modest $100 investment 30 years ago, Margins has grown into a global technology powerhouse.
Its partnership with Denmark, dating back to 1999, has helped establish Ghana’s digital ID as a continental benchmark and a tool for socio-economic transformation.
The Accra Circuit Court presided over by Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah has granted bail to Sharon Abayateye, a 25-year-old client manageress, who is standing trial for allegedly stealing over GH¢220,000 from her employer.
Abayateye, who faces a charge of stealing contrary to Section 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), pleaded not guilty during her re-arraignment on September 16, 2025, following the filing of an amended charge sheet by the prosecution.
The accused, who is alleged to have misappropriated funds belonging to Krystle Ababio, CEO of Vexxels Garment at Dansoman, was first arraigned on September 10, 2025.
She was remanded into custody following her initial plea of not guilty.
At her second court appearance on September 16, Chief Inspector Daniel Appiah-Ofori, the prosecutor, filed an amended charge sheet and requested the court to strike out the earlier charge.
The request was granted, and the accused was discharged on the earlier charge. A new plea was taken, to which the accused again pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecution, on the morning of her second appearance, the accused brought GH¢20,000 to pay as part of the alleged stolen amount.
Defence counsel, while acknowledging the payment, prayed the court to grant the accused bail on favourable terms.
However, the prosecution opposed the bail application on grounds of newly received information, resulting in the court remanding the accused once again.
During her third appearance on September 25, 2025 defence counsel renewed the bail application, which was not opposed by the prosecution.
The court subsequently granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be justified and the other a salaried worker earning not less than GH¢2,000.
As part of the bail conditions, the accused is to deposit all her travel documents, including her passport, at the court registry and is to report to the police investigator once every week.
The court further directed the prosecution to file disclosures and adjourned the case to November 13, 2025.
Background
The facts, as presented by the prosecution, indicate that the complainant, Krystle Ababio, employed Sharon Abayateye in September 2024 as a customer service officer, with partial responsibilities over company finances.
On September 5, 2025, Ababio received a complaint via Instagram from a client who claimed to have paid GH¢64,901.96 for dresses but had not received the items.
Upon confronting Abayateye, the accused denied receiving any such payment. However, the complainant later detected a change in the mobile money number on company payment vouchers.
Further investigation revealed that the accused used two SIM cards, one registered in her name and the other in the name Patience Frimpong Ankomah, to divert client payments.
It was discovered that amounts totalling GH¢223,858.05 were received through the mobile money number linked to the SIM card registered in the name of Patience Frimpong Ankomah.
During investigations, the accused allegedly admitted in her cautioned statement to embezzling part of the company’s funds.
Sharon Abayateye was subsequently charged and arraigned before the court.
The Hospital administrative staff in a meeting with the regional minister
Two years after its commissioning, the Elubo Government Hospital is struggling to deliver critical health services due to a severe shortage of nursing staff, stemming largely from a widespread refusal by nurses to accept postings to the facility.
The hospital, which was built to serve as a major healthcare hub for the Elubo area and surrounding communities, currently operates at far below its capacity. According to the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Zachariah Musah, staffing challenges are crippling the hospital’s operations.
Speaking during a visit by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, Dr. Musah revealed that the hospital was operating with only 45 nurses out of the 120 required to function at full capacity.
“Because of the unavailability of skilled staff, some of our facilities remain closed. The issue isn’t the absence of need – it’s the lack of personnel,” Dr. Musah said.
Compounding the staffing crisis is the lack of adequate accommodation for healthcare workers posted to Elubo.
The absence of housing options, Dr. Musah noted, has further discouraged personnel from accepting transfers to the facility.
The situation drew sharp criticism from the Regional Minister, who questioned the policy enforcement surrounding nurses who reject official postings.
“It beats my mind why anyone in the health sector is transferred to a facility, refuses to go, yet remains in the system and continues to draw a salary.
“You have overstaffing in some areas, and in others, like Elubo, we hear of acute shortages,” Regional Minister Nelson said.
The minister called on authorities responsible for human resource deployment in the health sector to urgently address the discrepancy, stating, “I can never be convinced why such a situation exists and no one can.”
While the Ministry of Health works toward long-term staffing solutions, Mr. Nelson emphasized the need to make the hospital operational in the short term to justify the multi-million-cedi investment.
“The people of Elubo are counting on this hospital. We must find a way to turn it into the healthcare hub it was designed to be,” he said.
He further urged hospital management to prioritise patient care and proposed the establishment of a dedicated office to handle patient-related issues, ensuring the facility lives up to its mandate.
