The Black Stars will renew their rivalry with Super Eagles of Nigeria for a place in the 2022 World Cup when the two teams clash later in March to secure a spot at the global showpiece.
The two West African nations were paired for the third and final round of the African qualifiers for the World Cup held today, Saturday, 22 January 2022.
The draw held in Douala, Cameroon was conducted by CAF Competitions Director Samson Adamu, assisted by CAF legends El Hadji Diouf and Emmanuel Adebayor.
The Black Stars have been in a poor shape exiting the ongoing Afcon competition at the group stages without a win.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been in great shape being the only country to have won all three group stage matches securing the maximum nine points for qualification to the round 16th stage.
In other parings, Mohammed Salah’s Egypt will play Sadio Mane’s Senegal.
Cameroon will face Algeria, Dr Congo plays Morocco whilst Mali plays Tunisia
Guinea president Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya has told the country’s Africa Cup of Nations squad to either win the tournament or bring back the money spent in preparing for it.
Guinea are in Group B of the continental extravaganza, alongside Zimbabwe, Senegal and Malawi.
Speaking at the send-off ceremony, Doumbouya, the former army general who rose to power through a military coup that toppled former President Alpha Condé in October, challenged the team to win the continental showpiece in Cameroon.
“Bring back the trophy or bring back the money we invested in you. Period,” the President said.
Guinea kick start their campaign against Malawi on January 10
Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo will on Thursday, December 16, 2021 launch the official logo, mascot, and website of the 13th African Games – dubbed Accra 2023.
Ghana were confirmed as host of the multi-sport event in October 2018. Since then, the Local Organising Committee headed by Executive Chairman Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare has been working feverishly around the clock to send a good signal about the country’s readiness to host the rest of the continent.
Meanwhile, some of the questions bothering on the minds of many Ghanaians as well as most citizens of the second largest continent in the world – Africa, are centred on information on the logo, mascot, and the website of the Pan African Games.
Well, that question is set to be answered on Thursday at 11 AM in Accra at the International Conference Center when the President of the land H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo graces the unveiling ceremony and does the honours of launching the logo, the mascot, and the website of the games.
Hon. Mustapha Ussif, the Minister of Youth and Sports, as well as Parliament’s Select Committee on Sports, will all grace the event on Thursday.
The 13th African Games is expected to bring together 54 countries, 25 sporting disciplines, and 16,000 sportsmen
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday during their Extraordinary Assembly announced a new date for the 2022 World Cup play-offs draw.
The draw has been moved from 18 December 2021 to January 26, 2022.
According to the decision, the January 2022 rankings will be used to seed the teams for the draw.
The top five ranked teams at the time of the draw will be seeded and paired against the other five unseeded countries.
Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, DR Congo, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Mali booked their places after topping their respective groups in the second qualification round.
Hearts of Oak’s poor start to the season continued on Sunday with their first defeat as they lost 2-0 against AshantiGold at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.
The Phobians were confident of ending their winless run against the Miners, who have equally failed to impress, leading to the sacking of coach Ernest Thompson.
But led by interim manager Thomas Duah, Ashgold avenged last season’s MTN FA Cup final defeat and piled pressure on coach Samuel Boadu.
Boadu’s side haven’t won a single game this season and are nine points behind Asante Kotoko who are currently flying high with four straight wins and occupy the first position in the league.
Hearts should’ve opened the scoring, but Patrick Razak hit the post after rounding goalkeeper Kofi Mensah in the first half.
Ashgold punished them in the 53rd minute when Yaw Annor scored a superb solo goal. He picked the ball from the centre and made a daring run into Hearts box before calmly beating Richard Attah.
With Hearts desperately seeking the equaliser, they left spaces at the back for Ashgold to exploit. Attah saved them in the 82nd minute but the Miners got the second deep into stoppage time courtesy of Abdul Salam.
CHECK OUT ABDUL SALAM’S LAST MINUTE GOAL FOR ASHANTI GOLD.
In Accra, youngster Fatawu Issahaku scored a stunning brace but it wasn’t enough as Great Olympics rallied from three-goal down to snatch a point against Dreams FC in a drama-filled contest.
Dreams led 3-0 before the 27th minute with Issahaku scoring his third and fourth goals this season but Olympics were awarded three penalties and they scored all.
Maxwell Abbey Quaye scored the first two to take his tally for the season to six goals before Samuel Armah scored the last penalty to complete the comeback.
Elmina Sharks won their first game of the season beating Bibiani Goldstars 2-1 in Elmina. Legon Cities, with their head coach Maxwell Konadu back from national duty with Black Stars, twice came from behind to take a point at WAFA.
On Sunday morning, the fixture between Aduana Stars and Real Tamale United, which was rained off on Saturday, continued from the second half. With the game squared at 1-1, the Ogya produced a remarkable performance, scoring four goals to win 5-1 and register their first win.
Featherweight contender Isaac Dogboe scored a majority decision victory over American-born Puerto RicanChristopher “Pitufo” Diaz in a back-and-forth battle on Saturday night at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Dogboe, a former junior featherweight world titlist, won the entertaining bout 96-94 and 97-93 while one judge scored the fight 95-95.
It was a competitive fight all the way with both fighters landing their share of solid shots. Maybe the best shot of the fight came in the third round when Diaz rocked the Ghanaian with a left hook, although he recovered quickly.
By the fourth round, Diaz had some swelling around his eyes but continued to fire combinations and stiff jabs. Dogboe looked to box more and pick his spots to punch, which he did with a strong close to the sixth round when he caught Diaz with a combination along the ropes.
Dogboe (23-2, 15 KOs), 27, of Ghana, kept it going as he opened the seventh round with a flurry of punches that forced former world title challenger Diaz (26-4, 16 KOs), 26, of Puerto Rico, back and got the crowd excited.
They traded three-punch combinations early in the ninth round and later in the round Dogboe was warned by referee Raul Caiz Jr. for lifting Diaz off the canvas when they were in a clinch.
In the 10th round they fought as though they both believed the outcome was in doubt and tried to close impressively.
Dogboe won his third fight in a row since losing his WBO 122-pound world title to Emanuel Navarrete by unanimous decision in December 2018 and getting stopped by him in the 12th round of an immediate rematch in May 2019.
Diaz lost his second fight in a row. On April 24, he was stopped by Navarrete, now the WBO featherweight titlist, in the 12th round of a title challenge
Vice Presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Bawumia has lambasted the Mahama led government for its incessant penchant to tax almost every and anything.
He has observed that if the government finds a way, it will even impose taxes on the air Ghanaians breathe.
The renowned Economist while addressing students and lecturers of the E.P. College of Education, Amedzofe in the Volta region, Wednesday pointed out that the current slump in the economy had been occasioned by the government’s mismanagement, corruption and incompetence.
Dr Bawumia noted that in the government’s desperate bid to find a way out, it has resorted to imprudently imposing taxes on every conceivable item.
“In response to the reckless management of our country’s economy and resources, which has led Ghana back to the doorsteps of the IMF, the government resorted to imposing taxes on every conceivable item in attempt to raise resources to fill the deep hole their incompetence and corruption had dug.”
“In their desperation to fill the hole they have dug, the government imposed taxes on condoms, cutlasses, savings; today they are imposing taxes on pensions and allowances. Anything they think they can impose taxes on, they are imposing taxes on it – even if they think they could impose taxes on the air we breathe today, they would have imposed taxes on it,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia noted that as a result of the desperation to raise revenue, chiefly because the government’s reckless borrowing and corruption had created a huge hole, the government was failing to see the dangers their unquenchable thirst for taxes were spelling for the economy.
“In so doing, they do not even understand that this is actually hurting the economy but they are so desperate for revenue that they are not even thinking about the economy”, he said
FIFA on Wednesday notified both the South African FA and Ghana FA regarding the protest lodged by the former in relation to the 2022 World Cup qualifying match between the Bafana Bafana and the Black Stars last Sunday.
“…we wish to inform the South African Football Association as well as the Ghana Football Association that the protest will be submitted to a member of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on 23 November 2021 for consideration and decision in accordance with art. 14 (9) of the Regulations FIFA World Cup 2022TM, Preliminary Competition as well as arts. 46 and 54 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC),” the world football governing said in a statement in which they copied both associations.
“In view of the foregoing, the Ghana Football Association has the opportunity to provide the secretariat of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee with any comments it deems appropriate on the aforementioned protest, if any, by 20 November 2021 at the latest, along with any document deemed necessary.”
“Finally, for the sake of clarity, please be informed that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee will decide on the protest using the file in its possession (cf. art. 20 par. 5 of the FDC).”
South Africa filed the protest following their defeat to Ghana in the crucial match played at the Cape Coast Stadium on Sunday night.
South Africa say they were ‘robbed’ as they were beaten 1-0, with the Ghana goal coming via a contentious penalty in the 33rd minute.
Ghana were awarded the penalty after Senegalese Ndiaye Maguette adjudged Daniel Amartey to have been fouled in the South African box.
Ayew stepped up and scored to take Black Stars through, much to the dismay of Bafana Bafana who needed just a point to qualify.
Evelyn Badu was the heroine on Monday, scoring the winner as Hasaacas Ladies made history by reaching the final of the first ever CAF Women’s Champions League.
Hasaacas Ladies beat ASFAR of Morocco 2-1 in an entertaining semi-final encounter at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo to book a ticket in the final.
The Ghanaian side lived dangerously at the back in the first 20 minutes but ASFAR could not punish them due to their indecisiveness.
However, Hasaacas Ladies looked good in attack and opened the scoring in the 36th minute when lanky attacker Doris Boaduwaa headed in a corner.
It took just nine minutes for the Moroccans to draw level with midfielder Najat Badri scoring on the stroke of halftime.
Hasaacas squandered a golden opportunity to go ahead in the 64th minute as Perpetual Agyekum failed to score a penalty. She hit the post before an opportunity to hit the rebound was cleared by the Moroccan defence.
The penalty miss didn’t affect Hasaacas as they kept playing at a high level.
They were rewarded in the 77th minute when midfielder Badu carefully guided her header from close range into the net after a brilliant cross from the right, recording her fifth goal of the tournament.
Yussif Basigi’s ladies defended well to seal their progression to the final, where they will face either Mamelodi Sundowns or Malabo Kings on Friday.
Hasaacas Ladies are seeking to end the year with four trophies, having already captured the Women’s Premier League, FA Cup and WAFU Zone B championship
But Ayew disagrees. He said at the post-match conference, “It was a clear penalty on [Amartey]. In fact, we had chances to get more penalties and should have been given two more.”
Ghana came into the game three points adrift of South Africa but knew any kind of victory would secure their spot in the next round.
“I think we had more clear chances. Yes, it was a tough game but we won this game fair and square. We could have scored more,” he added.
The draw for the play-offs is expected in December
The meeting which was held at the headquarters of the Ghana Police Service on Friday 5 November 2021, brought together top officials of the police service, executive council members of the GFA and representatives of Premier League Clubs.
The police team was led by the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, Director General of Public Affairs ACP Kwesi Ofori, COP Kofi Boakye of the Legal and Prosecution Department, ACP Lydia Donkor – Head of Legal and Prosecution, Greater Accra Regional Commander DCOP Iddi Lansah Seidu, and DCOP Mrs. Habiba Akyere Twumasi-Sarpong.
The GFA also had Executive Council Members Nana Sarfo Oduro, Dr. Tony Aubynn, Samuel Anim Addo and General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo (Esq.) in attendance.
Others included Nana Yaw Amponsah, CEO of Asante Kotoko SC, Patrick Akoto, Director of Communications of Medeama, Fred Tindan, Management Member of Bibiani Gold Stars, Nana Obiri Yeboah, Management Member of Accra Lions, Emmanuel Osei, Public Relations Officer of Accra Great Olympics and Eleony Amande, CEO of Karela United FC.
Accra Hearts of Oak was represented by Operations Manager Desmond Amenuu while Enoch Agyare-Addo, Kwabena Asenso, Kasim Perez and Elvis Osei Poku represented Dreams FC and Legon Cities, Real Tamale United and Aduana FC respectively.
The IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare and his team took time to listen to concerns and challenges facing clubs at League Centres and how to deal with them. They included combating crime at League centres, dealing with hooliganism and crowed violence and clamping down on faceless people who bet away matches in the football eco-system.
President of the GFA Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku re-iterated the need for the Police Service to consider forming a special Sports Policing unit within the Police service to provide security at League centres as he believes this will curb the rampant crowed violence and hooliganism that have characterized the domestic game.
President Simeon Okraku also thanked the IGP for the invitation and his desire to support football operations and match day security across League centres
Kenya’s Agnes Tirop broke the world record for a women’s 10km road race in Germany in September
Kenyan world record holder Agnes Tirop has been found dead at her home in the western town of Iten, a training hub for many athletes.
The two-time World Athletics Championships bronze medallist, who finished fourth in the Olympic 5,000m final two months ago, was 25.
Kenyan police have told BBC Sport Africa they are still investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, with crime scene investigators at her house on Wednesday.
Last month, Tirop set the world record for a women’s only 10km road race in Germany.
“Athletics Kenya are this afternoon distraught to learn about the untimely death of World 10,000m bronze medallist Agnes Tirop,” the country’s athletics body said in a statement.
“We are still working to unearth more details surrounding her demise. Kenya has lost a jewel who was one of the fastest-rising athletics giants on the international stage, thanks to her eye-catching performances on the track.”
At the 2020 Olympic Games in August, Tirop finished just outside the medal places for the women’s 5,000m, trailing Ethiopia’s bronze medallist Gudaf Tsegay by 0.75 seconds.
As well as her 10,000m bronze medals at both the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships, Tirop also impressed off the track.
In September, she set a time of 30 minutes and one second in Herzogenaurach, Germany, as she took 28 seconds off the old 10km road race record set in 2002.
Tirop began her career as a junior athlete in 2011, winning two bronze medal in the 5,000m at that year’s world junior championships.
Four years later, during a rapid ascent, she won the senior World Cross Country championships in China – becoming the second youngest medallist at that level.
In its statement, Athletics Kenya wished “strength to [Tirop’s] family and friends at this difficult time”.
Fury delivered the knockout blow in the 11th round
Tyson Fury recovers from two knockdowns in the fourth round to complete a stunning knockout victory over Deontay Wilder
Tyson Fury delivered a thrilling 11th-round knockout of Deontay Wilder to retain his WBC heavyweight crown as their trilogy bout produced another classic on an electric night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Twenty months since Fury dethroned the American, the 33-year-old had to show all his resolve and resilience to extend his undefeated professional record to 32 fights after twice being floored in the fourth round.Fury sent his opponent sprawling in an explosive third, only to see Wilder recover and the Briton found himself on the end of the Bronze Bomber’s huge right hand twice in quick succession.Wilder was hanging on by the end of the seventh but was still in a gruelling fight come the 10th, when Fury knocked him down once more, before delivering the final blow in the 11th to bring this particular chapter of heavyweight boxing to a close.Fury celebrates in the ring with his belt and his entourage, including wife Paris
“I was down a couple of times, I was hurt, Wilder is a strong puncher,” said Fury.
“It was a great fight. I will not make any excuses, Wilder is a top fighter, he gave me a run for my money. I always say I am the best fighter in the world and he is the second best.
“Don’t ever doubt me. When the chips are down I can always deliver.”
Fury shows he is never beaten
This might not have been the fight Fury wanted but, after a controversial draw in their first meeting in 2018 and seventh-round stoppage from Fury last time out, it again delivered the blockbuster battle the Las Vegas crowd was craving.
Tensions had been simmering throughout fight week and only continued to bubble as Wilder’s delayed entrance left the arena waiting, before the lights finally went down and the American, who listed his elaborate and heavy ring-walk outfit as one of the excuses for his loss to Fury last year, emerged in a more understated fur-lined gown.
But what’s a few minutes when this classic tussle was more than a year in the making?
Fury, dressed as a Roman centurion, followed to a backdrop of AC/DC as both fighters stepped inside the ropes for the first time since their explosive meeting at the MGM Grand in February 2020.
That was pre-pandemic and the Morecambe-based boxer was buoyed by the thousands of UK fans who had flooded to Las Vegas to support their charge, although travel restrictions meant there was never going to be the boisterous following for the British hopeful this time.
But the local support could not help but be wowed by Fury once more as he again proved that, despite finding himself on the canvas, you can never write this man off.
Wilder came out looking to dictate from the opening bell with a series of jabs to the body as Fury took his time to size up a remodelled opponent, one new trainer Malik Scott says has more in his tool box than previously shown.
Wilder’s new regime came amid question marks around Fury’s own preparation – the original summer fight date was scrapped when he contracted Covid-19 and quickly rescheduled for October and Fury then had to rush home to the UK to be with wife Paris for the birth of their sixth child, Athena.
The American had also closed the gap in terms of weight, and despite Fury carrying 39lbs more than his opponent both were the heaviest of their professional careers at 19st 11lbs to Wilder’s 17st.
But it was Fury who then began to dominate after Wilder’s brisk opening exchange and a huge left-right combination sent the Alabaman to the ground.
The 35-year-old survived the count and, rejuvenated by the bell, felled Fury with a mammoth right of his own in the fourth and followed with another to send the champion tumbling twice in the same round for the first time in his career, as the anticipation of an upset grew.
Fury, though, rose from there on and a determined Wilder had been hanging on for several rounds when he was knocked down again in the 10th, before the champion finally landed a right that ended the fight after 11 enthralling rounds.
‘I am the greatest heavyweight champion of my era’
Fury has passed every challenge thrown his way but to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000 he will need to take the titles held by Oleksandr Usyk.
The Ukrainian looks set to face Anthony Joshua in a rematch first to see if the Briton can win back his WBF, IBF and WBO crowns, but in Fury’s mind there is no doubt as to who is the greatest heavyweight of this enticing era.
“I have proved time and again that I can never be written off,” he added. “I didn’t have my best performance but I pulled it out of the bag when it needed to be done.
“He did keep getting up but it was that final right hand to the side of the head that finished him.
“I wasn’t hurt. You get hit, you wake up on the floor. I got up and was very conscious the whole time. I was one punch away from knocking him out in the whole fight.
“I am the greatest heavyweight champion of my era, without a doubt. Number one. If you play with fire long enough you will get burned
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has named a 32-man provisional squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers against Zimbabwe.
The man who was unveiled as Ghana Coach on Friday, September 24, 2021, is preparing for a second bow against the Warriors of Zimbabwe next month. The list includes Swindon Town FC goalkeeper Jojo Wallocott – a 26-year-old shot-stopper who has been given his first international call-up.
Asante Kotoko youngster Danlad Ibrahim makes a return to the squad while Arsenal stalwart Thomas Partey who missed the games against Ethiopia and South Africa returns after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of action for the opening stages of the new season. Another returnee is Ajax Amsterdam star Mohammed Kudus.
Fiorentina ace Joseph Alfred Duncan will have the chance to make an impression this time having missed out on a call up for almost a year for varied reasons. Turkey-based forward Benjamin Tetteh who plays for Yeni Malatyaspor has also been handed a call up by the Serbian tactician.
Ghana has a double-header against Zimbabwe in the next round of qualifiers in October. The Black Stars will take on the Warriors on Saturday, October 12 at the Cape Coast stadium on matchday three of the qualifiers before traveling to Harare three days later for the reverse fixture.
Ghana’s provisional squad
Goalkeepers
Lawrence Ati- Zigi (FC St. Gallen), Richard Atta (Hearts of Oak), Ibrahim Danlad, (Asante Kotoko), Jojo Wallocott (Swindon Town)
Defenders: Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC), Andrew Yiadom (Reading FC), Ismail Ganiyu (Asante Kotoko), Gideon Mensah (Bordeaux), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading FC), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg).
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC), Baba Idrissu (Real Mallorca), Alfred Duncan (Fiorentina), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens), Mubarak Wakaso, (Shenzhen FC), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Majeed Ashimeru (RSC Anderlecht), Kofi Kyere (St. Pauli), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Steadfast FC).
Forwards: Andre Ayew (Al Sadd SC), Kamaldeen Suleymana (Rennes), Tariq Fosu-Henry (Brentford FC), Joel Fameyeh (Orenburg), Yaw Yeboah (Wisła Kraków), Samuel Owusu (Al-Fayha FC), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Caleb Ekuban (Genoa), Emmanuel Gyasi (Spezia), Benjamin Tetteh (Yeni Malatyaspor)
Oleksandr Usyk is the new unified heavyweight world champion after dethroning Anthony Joshua with an incredible performance in London.
The Ukrainian put on a masterclass in front of 65,000 fans inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, outclassing Joshua over 12 rounds, and hurting the defending champion on numerous occasions.
The scorecards – 117-112, 116-112, 115-113 – were all for Usyk and there was a mere shrug of the shoulders from Joshua as the second defeat of his professional career was confirmed.
Having seen a fight with fellow Briton Tyson Fury collapse last summer, Joshua opted to face his WBO mandatory challenger and former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk instead.
It appeared the easier fight for Joshua, but boxing’s triumphant return to stadium nights was soured for the home crowd by a truly exceptional performance from the challenger.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn suggested his fighter may have suffered a broken eye socket and would need to go to hospital.
“I don’t know if he has broken his eye socket, it doesn’t look great,” he said. “He said he couldn’t see after the ninth round, obviously he was getting tagged a lot as well.”
A devastated Joshua left the ring immediately after the decision but later posted a short message on Twitter, saying: “Keep positive even if the world’s crumbling in front of you! London I love you & thank you each and every time!”
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has unveiled Milovan Rajevac as the new coach of the senior national team, Black Stars.
His contract is for a year.
The tenure “automatically” extends to the end of February 2023 if he is able to qualify the team to the World Cup.
Rajevac will be paid $30,000 as salary.
He will be assisted by Ghanaian coaches Maxwell Konadu and Otto Addo.
The Executive Council of the GFA formed a three-member committee made up of Vice-president Mark Addo, Upper East Regional Football Association Chairman Salifu Zida and Dr Randy Abbey, to find a Head Coach and Assistant Coaches for the Black Stars following the exit of Coach C.K Akonnor.
Akonnor was sacked after Ghana lost 0-1 to South Africa in a World Cup qualifying match and beat Ethiopia 1-0 in an unconvincing home match.
About Milovan Rajaevac
He becameGhanamanager in August 2008 wherehe continued the Black Stars’ qualificationto the2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In the tournament, Ghana almost reached the semi-final.
They narrowly lost to Uruguayin the quarter-final via penalties.
Rajevac quit Ghana after the World Cup on 8 September 2010 and took up a position with Saudi Arabian teamAl-Ahlia day later.
On 15 June 2016, he was officially appointed as manager of Rudar Velenjein Slovenia.
However, on 26 June 2016, he was appointed as manager of theAlgerian national team.
He resigned from the position in October 2016 after two matches.
Rajevac has coached a number of clubs.
He was adjudged Serbian Coach of the Year in 2010 and African Coach of the year in the same year
Head Coach of the Black Stars Charles Kwablan Akonnor has picked a provisional 30-man squad for the cracking game in Cape Coast and Johannesburg, handing a call up to Sturm Graz Kelvin Yeboah.
Ghana will begin her FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers against Ethiopia and South Africa in September.
The list includes five home based players Richard Atta (Hearts of Oak), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC), Ismail Ganiyu (Asante Kotoko), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Steadfast FC) and Afriyie Barnieh of Accra Hearts of Oak. Orlando Pirates shot stopper Richard Ofori who hasn’t played for Ghana since November last year following a muscle injury is in line to make his first appearance in 11 months after recovering from the setback.
There are also recalls for Majeed Ashimeru and Jonathan Mensah who had been in the international wilderness but are back in favour.
Ghana is expected to take on the Walias of Ethiopia at the Cape Coast stadium on Friday, September 3, before playing South Africa on Monday, September 6, 2021 in Johannesburg.
Lionel Messi wept on Sunday as he bade farewell to his boyhood team FC Barcelona and confirmed he was talking with French club Paris St Germain over a possible move.
The 34-year-old Argentine’s emotional news conference followed Barca’s announcement last week that it could no longer afford him after a glittering two decades.
French newspaper L’Equipe reported on Sunday that he will travel to Paris either Sunday or Monday to undertake a medical and finalise a deal with the Qatar Sports Investment-owned club.
While Messi did not confirm he would definitely join the Parisians, he said his plans were to carry on playing as long as possible, adding he still harbours ambitions to win another Champions League trophy.
“As long as I go on being competitive and as long as my body responds (I’ll carry on playing),” he told a news conference.
“As long as I can, I will carry on competing.”
PSG declined to comment on the report that Messi would be arriving in Paris later on Sunday. “We are not in a position to confirm anything,” a club spokesman said.
“I tried to behave with humility and respect and I hope that is what remains of me when I leave the club,” said an emotional Messi as hundreds of fans, many wearing his No. 10 jersey, massed outside Barca’s Camp Nou stadium to bid farewell to the player they called Messiah.
Messi broke down as he walked onto the stage before conducting his news conference and was handed a tissue by his wife Antonella Roccuzzo as he fought back the tears.
“This is the toughest moment of my career. When the club told me, I just froze. This is all like a bucket of cold water has been poured over me and we are still coming to terms with it,” he sobbed.
“When I get home, I’m sure it’ll be even worse. But I’ll be surrounded by my loved ones and I’ll carry on playing football, and when I do so, I’m sure it’ll become a bit easier.”
FINANCIAL ISSUES
It had been widely reported by local media that Messi was set to stay at Camp Nou, with the player admitting he had agreed to a five-year deal involving a 50% pay-cut.
Barca, whose debts total way over 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion), were unable to make the deal work within the frameworks of La Liga’s financial fair play regulations – prompting their surprise U-turn announcement last Thursday.
“Honestly, when the elections happened (in March), I spoke with (Barca president Joan) Laporta, we had dinner and after that I was convinced I would be staying,” Messi said.
“My contract was never the issue … What I know is that I did everything I could. The club say it could not happen because of La Liga. I can guarantee you that I did everything I could to stay. Last year I didn’t want to and I said that, but this year it was different.”
He added the league informed him that accepting this injection was the only way they would approve a new contract for Messi, but rejected that saying he had to put the long-term interests of the club above any player.
RECORD BREAKER
Messi, Barca’s all-time goalscorer with 682 in 21 years, broke down in tears before giving a speech and was greeted by a lengthy standing ovation from the media, current and former team mates and coaches in attendance.
It was noticeable that he was not accompanied by Laporta or any of the other Barcelona directors during the act.
All 35 trophies he won during his time at the club were laid out for what the club described would be a private photo session after the news conference.
ICONIC SHIRT
Barcelona face Juventus in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, with nobody given Messi’s No.10 shirt for the game.
The club have not confirmed if they plan on leaving it vacant for the upcoming season or assigning it to a squad member.
La Liga rules only allow 25 senior players to be registered in the squad, so should Barca decide to retire the number in his honour, they will be reducing the squad size
The Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Professor Peter Twumasi has heralded Samuel Takyi for winning Ghana a medal in the Olympic Games.
The amateur boxer won Ghana a bronze medal in the Olympic Games for the first time since 1992.
Despite being a first-timer at the Olympic Games, Samuel Takyi managed to reach the quarterfinals of the division but lost to American professional boxer Duke Ragan.
And Professor Twumasi who is with the contingent in Tokyo believes the boxer has done incredibly well in winning Ghana a bronze medal.
Even though many have chastized the performance of Ghana in the competition, Professor Peter Twumasi believes the entire athletes did extraordinary well despite winning only a medal in the various disciplines that the country participated.
“No, is never a disappointment but rather we are happy with our Athlete performances because when you look at the five disciplines we participated in i.e (Athletics, Boxing, weightlifting, Judo and swimming) all the Athletes did improve their records”, he said.
Prof. Twumasi continued that,“Just look at Abeiku Jackson’s performance in swimming where he come out first in the heat irrespective of not winning a medal he did break his own national record and when given another chance he can win us Gold after gaining experience in this year’s Olympics.
“When you take a retrospective look into Christian’s performance in weightlifting, he was lying at the 180th position on the rankings but now he has moved up to the 12th position which gives him access to challenge in any world competition.
“So I can say this Olympic platform or stage has helped our athletes to improve their Performances, the confidence and experience gained is going to encourage them to do even more
The 43-year old replaces Najawu Issah who has been reassigned to the Black Stars B.
Richard Kingston, previously worked under Kwasi Appiah as goalkeepers trainer of the team in May 2017 but was relieved of his duty two years later.
He made about 90 senior national team appearances for Ghana spanning two decades before retiring from International football in 2017.
The former Great Olympics and Birmingham City shot stopper played in two FIFA World Cup tournaments in 2006 and 2010 and also represented Ghana in five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
He is expected to bring his rich vein of experience to bear in upcoming International competitions.
The Black Stars are scheduled to play Ethiopia and South Africa in September 2021 as the search for a ticket to the 2022 Word Cup begins
Samuel Takyi has won his Olympic quarter-final to guarantee himself a medal at Tokyo 2020, a first Olympic medal for a Ghanaian athlete in 29 years.
Takyi beat Colombia’s 32-year-old southpaw DavidCeiber Avila, a far more experienced fighter, in the quarter-final, taking two of three rounds to send the Ghanaian contingent in the stands wild.
Similar celebrations were happening across Ghana on a historic day in the ring, and they may get louder as Takyi moves on to the semi final where he’ll face the USA’s Ragan Duke.
Duke eliminated Irish boxer Kurt Walker in his quarter-final bout.
The 20-year-old has caused a sensation by making the podium after his selection for the boxing team in Tokyo initially caused eyebrows to raise.
Now it’s hands in the air as “The Golden Ring Warrior” has brought it home, the first Olympic medal since the football team won bronze at Barcelona 1992.
And the first boxing medal since middleweight Prince Amartey who took the bronze in Munch 1972.
Takyi joins Ghanaian Olympic greats Clement Quartey, a light welterweight who won silver in Rome 1960, Eddie Blay a bronze light welterweight medallist from Tokyo 1964 and Prince Amartey who made history in Munch 1972.
Now it’s Takyi’s time.
Samuel Takyi’s path to the podium
He didn’t even like boxing when he was younger, football was his thing, but when he slipped on the gloves for the first time it was game over for football and boxing was suddenly all that mattered.
Honing his skills at the Discipline Boxing Academy in Accra, Takyi quickly proved he has what it takes at international level.
He defeated the top-seeded featherweight Mohamed Hamout of Morocco at the the 2020 African Olympic boxing qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.
And also bounced back from defeat in the semi-finals to Everisto Mulenga by beating Isaac Masembe of Uganda to finish in third place in the qualification tournament, punching that ticket to Tokyo.
In the preliminary round of 32 the young boxer received a bye.
In his round of 16 bout Takyi outclassed Ecuador’s Jean Carlos Caicedo, a unanimous decision taking him to the quarter-finals.
Takyi turns the tables in quarter final battle
His biggest challenge came in the quarter-finals against Ceiber Avila, the Colombian was eliminated at Rio 2016 before the medal rounds and was all out to make it count in what is likely his last Olympic Games.
Ceiber came out swinging, the much smaller fighter, he stayed in close and tried to negate Takyi’s height and reach advantage, smashing Takyi with body shots and surprising Ghana’s great hope with his work rate.
It was tenacious stuff from the Colombian whose punches-per-minute rate was off the charts, and the Colombian won the first round unanimously.
Takyi had to respond and stop the swarm, doing much better in the second round, upping the intensity, moving out of range of Ceiber’s wild swings and inside body work.
The Ghanaian took round two by 3-2 to leave himself a chance, 1-1 going into Round 3.
But it looked like it was going the veteran’s way as he tied up Takyi in the final round, spoiling and dragging and running down the clock.
But Ghana’s man has a maturity beyond his years, finished really strong, Ceiber Avila hanging on, trying to run down the clock, the young star grew, exploding into the final minute to land the punches that mattered.
He convinced three of five judges and that was all he needed.
The Ghanaian’s star is on the rise, and now he’ll have more than 30 million people in his corner him as he fights for a shot at Ghana’s first ever gold medal on Tuesday.
When is Samuel Takyi fighting?
Samuel Takyi vs. Duke Ragan Tuesday 3 August 11:30am JST
Ghana’s gold-medal threat Samuel Takyi will fight the USA’s Duke Ragan on Tuesday 3 August 11:30 JST.
Qatari side Al Sadd SC have announced they have reached an agreement To sign Ghana forward Andre Dede Ayew.
Ayew is expected to arrive in Doha on Thursday morning to complete the routine procedures, followed by the signing of the contract and the official announcement.
The 31-year-old will be joining the 7th club of his illustrious career which has seen him play in France, England and Turkey.
He left Swansea for free after losing 2-0 to Brentford in the Championship play-off final.
Check the official tweet below
The Black Stars captain was Swansea’s top scorer for the past two seasons, with 35 goals since returning from a loan spell at Fenerbahce.
The former Marseille player is expected to have a take-home salary of around $220,000 a month at his new club.
Ayew will now have the opportunity of working with Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez, who is the coach of Al Sadd.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has sent a letter to Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt ES Okraku, congratulating Accra Hearts of Oak for emerging as Champions of the 2020-21 Ghana Premier League.
In his letter, the FIFA President hailed Hearts of Oak’s victory, putting it down to the hard work, passion, and commitment exhibited by every member of the team towards their triumph.
“Please allow me to congratulate Hearts of Oak for having been crowned 2020/21 champions of Ghana!
This title is, no doubt, the result of hard work, passion, and commitment, and everyone at the club can be proud of this important achievement. I would be grateful if you could please extend my congratulations to everybody involved, whom I encourage to continue working with team spirit, passion, and determination.
On behalf of the international football community, I finally take this opportunity to thank you and your Association for your contribution to the development and the prosperity of football in Ghana, in your region, and around the world.
I look forward to seeing you again soon”,the FIFA President wrote.
Hearts of Oak were handed the league trophy at the WAFA Park in Sogakope on Saturday despite their 1-0 loss to WAFA in the last round of matches
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has donated $10,000 United States Dollars to Hasaacas Ladies, Ghana’s representative to the first-ever CAF Women’s Champions League.null
The Ghanaian women champions, who will start their historic Women’s Champions League journey in the WAFU Zone B in Cote D’Ivoire this weekend, launched a public appeal for financial support, following what they described as a dire financial situation and difficulties in preparing for the tournament.
Dr Bawumia responded to their appeal on Monday morning with a timely presentation of $10,000 ahead of their departure for the tournament later today, Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
The cash was presented to the team at their camping base in Prampram on behalf of the Vice President by his aide, Tamimu Issah, who also conveyed a special message of goodwill to the team from the Vice President.
“On behalf of the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, I present this amount of $10,000 to you. It is his response to the public appeal launched by the team for support towards your participation in the first-ever CAF Women’s Champions League,” said the Vice President’s aide.
“His Excellency conveys his special message of goodwill to the entire team and he urges you to go all out and make yourselves and the country proud in Cote D’Ivoire.”
The management, technical and playing team of Hasaacas Ladies expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Vice President Bawumia for his surprise contribution.
“We are surprised by this wonderful gesture by the Vice President, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. We are grateful to him for this kind support,” the Head Coach of the team Yussif Basigi said.
The captain of the team, Janet Agyiri, on behalf of the playing body, also expressed gratitude to Dr Bawumia and assured him and the nation that they would go all out and make the nation proud.
The President of the Club, Nanabayin Eyison, said the Vice President’s intervention, which he described as “gargantuan”, is the first response to their public appeal.
Ghanaian giants, Hearts of Oak have won the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League title with a game to spare.
The Rainbow boys shared the spoils with City-rivals, Liberty Professionals in matchday 33 of the domestic top-flight at the Accra Sports Stadium to annex the title that has eluded the club for so many years.
Hearts of Oak were held to a 1-1 draw by the Scientific Soccer lads on Sunday. Daniel Afriyie Barnieh opened the scoring before Liberty restored parity.
The last time the Phobians won the league title was in 2009 under Serbian trainer Kosta Papic
The draw against the Scientific Soccer lads means Hearts of Oak have clinched the league title for the first time in 12-years despite having a game in hand.
They sit of the table with 63 points and the outcome of the last round of matches (matchday 34) will not change anything.
Hearts of Oak will travel to Sogakope to play West African Football Academy (WAFA) in the final round of matches of the Ghana Premier League.
Twenty seven years after winning Ghana’s third boxing world title, Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey, says he is the opposite of a grace to grass case as is being suggested on social media.
This was triggered by a picture of the 51-year-old which was trending heavily on certain social media platforms. It had to do with his current look which is a deviation from his regular clean shave.
The picture in question has the former world champion, spotting a gold chain blue basketball jersey and wearing a broad smile which shows some of his gold-studded teeth. His hair is grown and has some bushy facial hairs as well. This left some suggesting on social media that he had financial issues and was also indulging in drugs.
This picture went viral on various platforms and drew negative comments about the former champion to express worry about his look.
In an exclusive conversation with Joy Sports on the matter the Bazookaman said “I don’t do drugs. I don’t do that. Since I retired I have been focusing on my family and my businesses.”
“By the Grace of God I am very comfortable and working on my hospital project. The fact that I decided to grow my hair does not mean I am on drugs. I am also growing and cannot look the same as I looked previously,” he said.
Quartey, who won the WBA welterweight title 27 years ago, hung his gloves after his million dollar fight with his boy hood boxing mate and fellow former champion, Ronald ‘Winky’ Wright, in Las Vegas at middleweight. Quartey retired on a record of 37 wins four losses and a draw with 32 of his wins coming via knockouts.
Quartey was one of Ghana’s biggest boxing exports to the rest of the world in the 90s and became Ghana’s third boxing world champion after the legendary D.K. Poison and Azumah Nelson. He immediately warmed his way into the hearts of Ghanaians after defeating the then champion, Crisanto Espania via an 11th round KO in France. Espana retired nine months later after recording a win in a contest. He was one of the best rated in the welterweight division and had his powerful right jab rated by the Ring Magazine as one of the deadliest in the sport.
In 2008, he was awarded a grand medal of the Republic of Ghana by then President J.A. Kufuor at the state awards for his contributions to the sport and dedication to the national image building efforts. This was on the back of a heavily followed comeback from 2005. Ike had taken a four year hiatus from the sport following his loss to Fernando Vargas in the year 2000 and had a much anticipated comeback with great interest from Ghanaians and boxing enthusiasts around the world.
The ring magazine named him Comeback boxer of the Year in 2005 following his impressive wins against Clint McNeil in Accra, Verno Philips in Memphis Tennessee and Carlos Bojorquez in Las Vegas. In the bout against Phillips he was knocked down in the eighth round but beat and count and finished the round as well as the bout with a massive recovery.
His name is also printed in one of the stands of the iconic Bukom Boxing Arena, in Accra alongside nine other boxing world champions
In the past few years Quartey has made many appearances at major boxing fight nights and has been throwing focus on his business interests especially a hospital project which is expected to be completed within the next two years.
The GFA Prosecutor has charged the five persons in relation to misconducts after the Ghana Premier League match between Dreams FC and Berekum Chelsea at the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu.
Head Coach of Dreams FC Vladislav Viric has been charged on three counts of misconduct with Berekum Chelsea Head Coach Abdul Hanan-Abu also charged on one count of misconduct.
Two Officials of Dreams FC, Haruna Seidu, Kofi Akosa Agyei and a Player Agyenim Boateng have all been charged for misconducts in the said match.
The charged Officials and the Player are expected to submit written statements of defence or choose the option to appear before the GFA Disciplinary Committee to answer to the charges.
• The 3rd edition of the Ghana Football Awards came off on Saturday July 6null
•Asamoah Gyan scored Ghana’s first goal at the World Cup stage
• The former Sunderland striker has made over 100 appearances for the Black Stars
Black Stars striker, Asamoah Gyan has been named as the best Ghanaian player in the last decade.
Asamoah Gyan, over the past 10 years, has been one of the top players for Ghana after becoming the all-time top scorer for the Black Stars and Africa at the FIFA World Cup stage.null
The former BBC African Footballer of the Year was honoured at the 3rd edition of the Ghana Football Awards held in Accra on Saturday, July 3, 2021, at the Grand Arena.
Asamoah Gyan currently plies his trade for Ghana Premier League side Legon Cities FC, after leaving India’s Northeast United.
Gyan was also the first player in the history of football to score in nine consecutive international tournaments before Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo equaled the feat at the ongoing Euro 2020 tournament.
Government has decided to fully complete the University of Ghana Stadium to compliment facilities which would be built at Borteyman for the 2023 African Games, Youth and Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif has said
Responding to an urgent question in Parliament on Wednesday, the Sports Minister announced that due to delays in starting the construction of a proposed 50,000 Olympic Stadium in Borteyman for the Games as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become apparent that the full stadium may not be completed on time, hence the decision by government to resort to its plan B.
In what the Minister described as a phased approach, government will now focus completing the University of Ghana stadium at Legon, and also build the Olympic stadium in Borteyman in phases by prioritising the urgent construction of facilities which the University of Ghana stadium doesn’t have
“After careful study of timelines, the Ministry in consultation with the LOC have decided to adopt a hybrid approach to construct the project in phases by leveraging on existing facilities at the University of Ghana and build the other facilities that are not available but are requirement for the hosting of the Games,” Mustapha Ussif said in Parliament.
According to the Minister, the refurbishment of the University of Ghana Stadium will include the resurfacing of existing athletics tracks and the construction of a new athletics warm-up running tracks.
At Borteyman, the following facilities will be constructed for the Games: one thousand (1000) seater competition swimming pool, i.e. 8-lane ompetition swimming pool, 8-lane warm-up swimming pool, 500-seater temporary dome (handball, judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling, basketball, etc), and 1,000-seater multi-purpose hall (badminton, boxing, volleyball weightlifting, parasports).null
Other facilities to be constructed are are; 1000-seater multi-purpose hall (basketball, table tennis, wrestling), five (5) tennis courts complexes, including one thousand (1000) seater centre court (covered spectator stand) with a 20 capacity VVIP viewing seats). The other four (4) courts would each have a two hundred (200) spectator seats.
The Minister, who gave parliament a detailed background and timelines of how Ghana won the bid to host the Africa Games, also spoke at length about how the global pandemic has affected Ghana’s preparations.
Nonetheless, the Minister assured Parliament of Ghana’s commitment and ability to stage a successful competition.
Ghana won the bid to host the African Games ahead of countries such as Egypt and Burkina Faso.
An Accra High Court has thrown out the government’s case against former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi over the No 12 invesitgation after the state’s delays in filing a witness statement.
The decision of the Criminal Court 4 of the Accra High Court to discharge Nyantakyi has forced the state to rush to another court to file the same charges agianst the former FIFA Council member.
It has now emerged that the former CAF 1st Vice President was discharged by the Accra High Court on March 11, 2021, after Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame ruled that delays by the state prosecutors denied Nyantakyi and Abdulai Alhassan justice.
In the fallout from the ‘Number 12’ documentary, which exposed corruption in Ghana football, Nyantakyi together with the Northern Regional Representative of the GFA, Abdulai Alhassan were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.
With the case being in court for more one year, the state’s lawyers struggled to file their witness statement against the ex-Ghana FA president which forced the judge to throw out the state’s case against the football official.
The judge rejected the request of the state for another adjournment as the charges of fraud and corruption had been consistently postponed to allow the prosecutors to file their witness statement.
“I think in this modern times there can be a way out for prosecution who has the whole state apparatus behind her to file a witness statement without us going and coming,” Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame said in her ruling.
“I think the prosecution may need a longer time to put their house in order. Justice delayed they say Justice denied. Justice is two-way traffic for prosecution and accused as well.
“It’s been one year since we set out to do case Management Conference but due to the excuse by the learned counsel for the Republic, that they have a witness statement to file, we kept adjourning this case till today.
“I think in this modern times there can be a way out for prosecution who has the whole state apparatus behind her to file a witness statement without us going and coming.
“As it stands now, I have no option other than to discharge accused persons. Any time prosecution is ready, they can do the needful. Accused persons are discharged.” Justice Tasiame concluded.
Following the ruling of the court, lawyers for the state led by Victoria Asieduaa, rushed to The Accra High Court’s Criminal Court 2 to have the case reheard in the new court.
Despite the counsel for Nyantakyi opposing the move to take the case to a new court, Justice Elfreda A. Dankyi of Court ruled that the case will be heard before her with the same charges.
Nana Yaw Amponsah is set to step down as the CEO of Ghanaian football giant Kumasi Asante Kotoko with immediate effect after he was slapped with a five-year ban by the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The decision by the Disciplinary Committee means that the former football agent will not be able to hold his position as the CEO of the Kumasi-based club.
Amponsah has three days to appeal the decision at the Appeals Committee of the GFA.
Nana Yaw Amponsah, who doubles as a Director of division One club Phar Rangers FC, is suffering the consequences of the decision of the club to pull out of the league without a just cause.
Phar Rangers announced their decision to pull out of the Division One League early this month as well as withdrawing from all GFA Competitions with immediate effect.
The Disciplinary Committee deliberated the matter before coming to the conclusion that all provisions of the GFA regulations must be enforced including banning their directors for five years.
“That the Shareholders and Directors of Phar Rangers FC on the records are hereby also banned from all football activities for a period of five (5) years effective from this 2020/2021 football season in accordance with Article 13(3) of the GFA Division One League Regulations,” the ruling from the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA read on Wednesday.
Attached is the full verdict of the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA.
Kwesi Nyantakyi was slapped with charges of fraud and corruption after he was captured in an investigative piece by Anas Aremeyaw dubbed Number 12.
The former Vice President of CAF together with former President of the Northern Regional Football Association, Abdullai Alhassan are also facing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud.null
Nyantakyi as per a report by Kasapa FM pleaded not guilty to the above-mentioned charges and was thus slapped with a bail condition of GH¢1million with three sureties.
He is also supposed to report to the investigator of the case until a judgement is made on the case.
These conditions also apply to Abdullai Alhasssan who has also pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit crime.
The High Court presided by Justice El-Freda Denkyi turned down pleas by Nyantakyi’s counsel to grant himself recognizance bail. Instead, he referred him to his previous bail terms.
The case has been adjourned to July 23, for Case Management Conference.null
Kwesi Nyantayi, it will be recalled was arrested after an investigative piece by Anas Aremeyaw Anas implicated him.
Nyantakyi who is a member of the FIFA Executive Council, CAF first vice-chair and President of the West Africa Football Union lost all these positions after the expose.
Nyantakyi was in 2018 banned from “all football-related activities at both national and international level” by the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA for breaking their statutes that border on fraud and corruption.
He appealed the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) but no official ruling has come out yet.
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