Category: Athletic

The Black Stars of Ghana continued their dreadful run of form after a 2-2 draw against the Cranes of Uganda on Tuesday.

The international friendly played at the Stade de Marrakech saw Jerome Opoku and Jordan Ayew score for Ghana, while Stephen Mukwala and Muhammad Shaban were on target for the Cranes.

Black Stars coach Otto Addo, after their loss against Nigeria, made some changes to the starting lineup with the inclusion of Fatawu Issahaku and goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott.

Defender Jerome Opoku, who saw red in Ghana’s last encounter against Nigeria, opened the scoring for Ghana with a close range header in the sixth minute.

The Black Stars were largely impressive with their ball retention, especially in the middle of the pitch, where they had the likes of Salis Samed and Francis Abu.

Uganda’s Cranes were largely on the back foot in the first quarter of the game but pulled parity in the 21st minute through Asante Kotoko striker Stephen Mukwala.

But the Black Stars retook their lead seven minutes later th
rough Jordan Ayew, who converted from the penalty spot.

Despite being heavily dominant, the Black Stars couldn’t add to their lead but maintained their one-goal cushion going into halftime.

The start of the second half was a bit cagey, with few clear-cut chances created by both sides.

Fatawu Issahaku and Ernest Nuamah were very impressive on the wings for the Black Stars, but they couldn’t apply the finishing touch in the Ugandan penalty box.

Coach Otto Addo introduced Captain Andre Ayew as Ghana searched for the third goal, but it was Uganda that restored parity in the 83rd through a controversial strike by Muhammad Shaban.

The Black Stars mounted a late surge of attack in their quest to win the match, but the Uganda defence stood firm with the game ending in a draw.

Black Stars Starting line-up: Joseph Wollacott (GK), Denis Odoi, Edmund Addo, Abdul Fatawu, Jordan Ayew, Ebenezer Annan, Abdul Samed Salis, Ernest Nuamah, Antoine Semenyo

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghanaian sprint star Joseph Paul Amoah is hopeful of making an appearance at the Paris Olympics despite not securing outright qualification at the 13th African Games.

Joe Paul, as he is popularly known, clinched Ghana’s only gold medal on the track, having won the 200m finals with a time of 20.70 seconds at the recently held African Games.

He became the first Ghanaian since Ohene Karikari in 1973 to win gold in the event.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, Joe Paul was grateful to Ghanaians for the enormous support during the African Games and had high hopes for Ghana’s Athletics team ahead of Olympic qualification.

‘What Ghanaians saw from us was the least we could do, and there is more to come. It is very early in the season, but we are going to make sure that come the Olympics, more would be seen from the athletics team.

‘The Olympics start in July, so we hope to get some good camping and better preparations,’ he said.

Ghana’s Athletics team is expected to partake in a series of qualifi
cation events, including the World Athletics Relay and numerous diamond leagues, ahead of the Paris Olympics.

However, Ghana is assured three Paris Olympics spots, with high jumper Rose Yeboah in pole position to secure qualification, as well as the two wild cards for Ghanaian swimmers.

Meanwhile, Ghana had a successful outing at the 13th African Games, winning 69 medals across various sporting disciplines, the best at the games since its inception in 1965.

Source: Ghana News Agency

AFCON 2017 winner and best goalkeeper, Fabrice Ondoa, has called on football authorities to investigate his cousin and national teammate Andre Onana’s late arrival at the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.

Speaking to Footmercato in an interview conducted one month ago and published on March 23, the Nimes substitute goalkeeper, said he does not condone anything or act that goes against the rules.

‘Even if you are my cousin or my best friend, there are certain things that cannot be tolerated in the national team’ he said.

‘As it’s known, 27 players are called to the AFCON, and it is required that they all be fully ready to play.’

Ondoa said questions should be asked about who authorised the Manchester United goalkeeper to arrive just the day the competition was starting.

He condemned the pressure from external parties and a reported imposition of certain players on the coach against his will.

‘It should be noted that there has been external pressure on the president of the federation’ he added. ‘I’ve been part o
f the team for 11 years, and there are certain things that should not be accepted.’

The former Samuel Eto’o Academy, Fundesport recruit, pointed out that he has nothing against his cousin. He said he wants the ‘unacceptable’ practices within the national team to be addressed.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

It was another defeat at home for Asante Kotoko as their poor run in the second round of the 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League season appears not to be ending anytime soon.

With their poor showing on the road, one would have thought they could at least captalise on home advantage to stay in the competition, but winning at home has also become a daunting task for the once fearsome side in Ghana football.

This time they succumbed to a 0-1 defeat against Nations FC, stretching their winless run to four consecutive defeats two of which were surprisingly recorded at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Scenes at the stadium after the match summed up a torrid season for the Porcupines as supporters could be seen pouring out their frustration in groups.

Asante Kotoko went into the match knowing another defeat could spell doom for them especially when they had failed to pick a point on the road since the beginning of the second round of the league.

They had no choice but to put some smiles on the faces of their fans who had been
enduring endless heartbreaks in the last few weeks.

Buoyed by the ever-noisy Porcupine Tertiary ‘Jama’ group, Kotoko started the match on a brighter note as they made early incursions into the half of their opponents.

The return of Isaac Oppong brought some bite to the attack of the Porcupines despite the absence of the Ugandan forward Steve Dese Mukwala who is on national duty for the Cranes of Uganda.

Very few chances were created by either side after the half-hour mark, but it was Kotoko who looked likely to break the deadlock having spent much time in the half of the visitors.

But it was Nations who stole the lead two minutes into additional time when Asamoah Boateng Afriyie nodded home a cross from a corner kick.

Kotoko’s immediate reaction was to launch a swift attack into the box of Nations but were denied by goalkeeper Kofi Mensah, thereby going into the break with a deficit of one goal.

With another defeat staring them at their home ground, Kotoko resumed the second half on the front foot, but
the visitors who had grown in confidence would not be push overs.

Desperation set in the play of Asante Kotoko as the hour mark approached without restoring parity – a situation that was exploited by Nations who often caught them on the break.

The visitors showed composure amid the incessant pressure from the Porcupines who were determined to salvage a point as the game entered the last ten minutes.

Within that period, Kotoko appealed for a penalty twice but referee James Taylor thought otherwise as he rejected both appeals and waived play on.

Nations FC held on to snatch all three points at a expense of a team whose campaign this season has been nothing but shambolic and uninspiring.

Source: Ghana News Agency

AFCON 2017 winner and best goalkeeper, Fabrice Ondoa, has called on football authorities to investigate his cousin and national teammate Andre Onana’s late arrival at the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.

Speaking to Footmercato in an interview conducted one month ago and published on March 23, the Nimes substitute goalkeeper, said he does not condone anything or act that goes against the rules.

‘Even if you are my cousin or my best friend, there are certain things that cannot be tolerated in the national team’ he said.

‘As it’s known, 27 players are called to the AFCON, and it is required that they all be fully ready to play.’

Ondoa said questions should be asked about who authorised the Manchester United goalkeeper to arrive just the day the competition was starting.

He condemned the pressure from external parties and a reported imposition of certain players on the coach against his will.

‘It should be noted that there has been external pressure on the president of the federation’ he added. ‘I’ve been part o
f the team for 11 years, and there are certain things that should not be accepted.’

The former Samuel Eto’o Academy, Fundesport recruit, pointed out that he has nothing against his cousin. He said he wants the ‘unacceptable’ practices within the national team to be addressed.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Egypt will be the host of the next 14th African Games in 2027.

The symbolic handing over of the African Union flag was done at the closing ceremony of the 13th edition of the African Games in Accra, Ghana.

Mr. Mustapha Ussif, the Youth and Sports Minister of Ghana handed over the flag to the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Minata Samate Cessouma, who then presented it to the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Ashraf Sobhy.

It would be the second time that Egypt would host the quadrillion sports festival.

Egypt placed first at Accra 2023 with a total of 187 medals (99 gold, 46 silver and 42 bronze).

Ghana placed sixth with 68 medals (19 gold, 269 silver and 20 bronze).

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has congratulated all national teams and individuals who won various medals in their respective competitions at the just-ended 13th edition of the All-African Games in Accra.

In a Facebook post Dr Bawumia wrote: ‘The 13th African Games, Accra 2023, has been truly historic and successful for Ghana, on and off the field and tracks.’

‘Hosting this prestigious African sports festival, for the first time in our nation’s history, in the midst of unforeseen challenges, which affected the global sporting calendar, has proven, once again, what Ghana can achieve with a possibility mindset’.

Accra 2023 had not only left Ghana a legacy of world-class and multi-sports facilities, which would positively impact sports development, but it had also been a launch pad for young Ghanaian athletes to make headway in their chosen professions, he said.

Dr Bawumia said many of the athletes had also written their names in gold, by giving Ghana her biggest medal haul ever at any international spo
rts competition.

‘I extend my warmest congratulations to all our national teams and individuals, who have made Ghana proud by winning medals in their respective competitions.

‘This is just the beginning. The future of Ghana Sports is promising, with more opportunities in the offing for our talented youth.’

The 13th edition of the All African Games 2023 came to a close in Accra on Saturday, March 23, 2024, after two-weeks of exciting competitions involving 29 sporting disciplines.

More than 3,000 athletes and officials from 54 African countries took part in the competitions with Ghana winning over 60 medals.

Source: Ghana News Agency