On June 19, Hearts of Oak will reassemble before facing Kotoko in the President's Cup.

Sarfo Duku

Suppose management chooses to keep Abdul Karim Zito as interim coach for the CAF Confederation Cup campaign next season. In that case, Sarfo Duku, director of communications at Asante Kotoko, thinks Zito has the qualifications to lead the team in continental play.

After finishing third in the Ghana Premier League, Karim Zito guided Kotoko to FA Cup success with a 2-1 victory over Golden Kick, guaranteeing the team's return to African inter-club competition.

Despite the accomplishment, club management has not yet confirmed whether he will continue as head coach; thus, his long-term future remains uncertain.

During Kotoko's championship ceremony to club owner Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace, Duku told Sporty FM that several choices are being considered while the Porcupine Warriors consider their managerial choice.

"He is an accomplished coach, and if management deems he can take us to Africa, then why not? However, it will only happen once we have evaluated and debated his technical report before coming to any decisions.

Another noteworthy update from today's sports coverage is this one.

Club World Cup updates: Inter Miami stuns Porto thanks to Messi's magic

Messi

As Lionel Messi set up the ball just outside the area for a free kick in the 54th minute of the game, the well-known "Messi, Messi, Messi" shouts reverberated throughout Mercedes-Benz Stadium. When the captain of Inter Miami walked near the ball, the crowd's collective singing momentarily stopped. Following Messi's 68th career direct free kick for club and country, the spectators were silent before cheering.

His incredible set-piece goal handed Inter Miami a 2-1 lead that they held onto as the Major League Soccer team defeated FC Porto in a historic match to kick off their Club World Cup campaign.

After failing to score in the opening game against Al Ahly and giving up an early penalty by Porto in the first half, Inter Miami's victory was their first in the 2025 Club World Cup. Before Thursday's match in Atlanta, the Concacaf team had a 0-3-10 (W-D-L) record, making it the first time a Concacaf team had defeated a European team in FIFA international club events.

Messi reached the half-century more quickly with the free kick than with Barcelona (119 appearances) or the Argentina national team (107 appearances), and it was his 50th goal for Inter Miami in 61 games.

Many questioned if Messi and the other former Barcelona veterans Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suárez could handle the demands and caliber of European teams as they did in La Liga in the run-up to the Club World Cup. Messi acknowledged that his expectations for this tournament were different from those of his previous Club World Cup competitions with Barcelona.

Messi told FIFA, "It is exciting to have the opportunity to be a part of it." "I am eager and I look forward to fighting against the greatest teams and doing well, but my expectations are different from what they were when I played for other teams."

However, in the second half against Porto, the 37-year-old Argentine forward displayed traits of his former self, slicing past opponents and reading the game flawlessly to help Miami win. Just seven minutes before his outstanding goal, Miami's talented midfielder Telasco Segovia had tied the score with a first-time effort into the top corner after Marcelo Weigandt's low right-wing cross.

Head coach Javier Mascherano and co-owner Jorge Mas set the success indicator for Inter Miami, which is the win that provides them a chance to go to the competition's knockout round. Messi is the main reason why Inter Miami wins in every competition, and the squad obviously depends on his wizardry whenever it can.

Regardless of the color or emblem on his jersey, Messi can handle any stage.

Both players and fans are under pressure.

You are thrilled to take your family to see the team you support play a competitive match against a top team in the United States after spending hundreds of dollars on tickets. However, the game will begin at noon in June at the famed Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, a stadium without a roof to shield spectators from the sun.

Numerous spectators of Sunday's Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atletico Madrid match have voiced their displeasure with the weather, citing the heat, lengthy lines for refreshments, and scarce water supplies.

"It was unpleasant," Jonathan Nettler told ESPN after going to the game with his wife and twin boys, ages 12 and 12. "It certainly made the event less enjoyable. During the game, my wife and the sons had to leave the bowl multiple times in order to find shade and rest. However, we made it through."

The game reportedly drew 80,619 spectators, the highest number at the Club World Cup to date. Both coaches and players expressed disapproval of the noon local kickoff time; Luis Enrique of PSG claimed that the heat "obviously influenced" the game.

"We were on a crusade for food, sunscreen, and souvenirs for the whole of the second half," Nettler told ESPN. "We had no trouble obtaining alcohol. However, my wife left the meal line to assist an elderly woman who was experiencing fainting. She also claimed to have witnessed two instances of medical personnel helping children on stretchers.

Messi

Nettler and his family will return to the Rose Bowl on Thursday for PSG vs. Botafogo despite everything. "The game starts at 6 p.m., and they are anticipating lower temps, so we are hoping we will be able to enjoy it more," he stated. "The heat of the American summer is not surprising. It must be well known to the teams that come here every year. However, the midday start times are out of the ordinary and very difficult.

FIFA has "deployed venue medical officers, who work in close conjunction with the local medical authorities to address major health problems, particularly heat control," according to a FIFA representative who told ESPN that the organization's "first priority is the health of everyone engaged in football." The representative stated that FIFA would "continue to monitor the weather conditions... to ensure a safe and pleasurable experience" and that fans could bring clear, empty, reusable plastic bottles into stadiums.