KOTOKO DEFENDER: WE ARE TAKING THE HEARTS OF OAK GAME VERY SERIOUSLY.

In their Ghana Premier League matchup at Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday, Asante Kotoko's defender Samba O'Neil has stated his team's will to defeat bitter rivals Hearts of Oak.

The two teams had comparable records going into the game, but Hearts had a small lead because they were one point ahead of Kotoko in sixth place. As they look to move up the league standings, both teams are eager to establish their dominance.

Samba is keen to keep up the momentum after Kotoko recently defeated Aduana Stars 2-0 to end a dismal run of four straight league losses.

"We are taking the game preparation very seriously. We are focused because it is the biggest game on our schedule," Samba said.

"We are not under any particular strain. While pressure is common in football, ours is more constructive. This game is no different from others because my goal is always to win, no matter who I play against.

The match on Sunday seems to be a pivotal one in their attempts to raise their league standings, with Kotoko and Hearts now in seventh and sixth place, respectively.

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Adingra, Lookman, Hakimi, and Osimhen are the final nominees for the 2024 CAF Awards.

The final list of nominees for the much-anticipated 2024 CAF Awards, which will be held at the Palais des Congrès in Morocco, has been made public by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

With five nominees vying for the Men's Player of the Year title and three for the Women's Player of the Year title, the esteemed event will honor exceptional accomplishments in several areas.

Last-Minute Nominees:

Player of the Year for Men:

Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion/Côte d'Ivoire)
Borussia Dortmund/Guinea's Serhou Guirassy
Achraf Hakimi, a PSG player from Morocco

Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/Nigeria)
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)

Player of the Year for Women:

Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride/Zambia)
Sanna Mssoudy (AS FAR/Morocco)
Nnadozie Chiamaka (Nigeria/Paris FC)

Goalkeeper of the Year, Coach of the Year, Interclub Player of the Year, and Young Player of the Year are additional categories. Among the noteworthy nominees are Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC) for Women's Goalkeeper of the Year and Andre Onana (Manchester United) for Men's Goalkeeper of the Year.

Teams and clubs like AS FAR, Nigeria, Al Ahly, and Côte d'Ivoire will also contend for the coveted National Team and Club of the Year awards.

The CAF Awards, which honor quality and talent throughout the continent, remain a highlight of the African football calendar.