Lesotho Wire

By Charity Nginyu

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) have come to a mutual agreement to reschedule the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The prestigious tournament, set to take place in Morocco, will now be held from mid-July to mid-August 2025.

The timing of the tournament has long been a bone of contention, particularly for European clubs who are disproportionately affected by the absence of key African players during crucial stages of the season.

Top European club owners and coaches have repeatedly voiced their concerns over the disruption caused by the AFCON, arguing that it disrupts the rhythm of their teams and compromises their competitive edge.

By shifting the tournament from mid-July to mid-August, CAF and FIFA aim to mitigate these concerns and ensure greater harmony between international and club football calendars.

This move has been welcomed by stakeholders across the footballing world, as it not only addresses the l
ongstanding issue of scheduling conflicts but also enhances the prestige and competitiveness of the AFCON. With the tournament now aligning more closely with the off-season for many European clubs, fans can expect to see a higher caliber of football and greater participation from top African players.

The decision equally marks a significant departure from the traditional scheduling of the AFCON, which has historically taken place in January or February.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Mr Alfred Obeng-Boateng, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Constituency, has cut the sod for the construction of an Astroturf complex in the area to promote sporting activities.

The Astroturf, to be constructed at Sefwi-Bekwai in the Bibiani Municipality of the Western North Region, is to promote sports development and other recreational activities.

The football pitch, which comes with an inner perimeter fence, floor lights, washrooms, spectator stands, and changing rooms, would cost about $300,000 and be completed within six months.

Mr Obeng-Boateng, at the sod-cutting ceremony, said the project was in line with the Government’s vision to develop sporting infrastructure across the country.

He said: ‘The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government inherited only three artificial football pitches across the length and breadth of the country, but we have managed to construct over 153 Astroturf nationwide to enhance sporting activities amidst COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war’.

He sa
id his constituency alone had been blessed with three of the Astroturfs at Bibiani Roman Park, Queen’s Girls SHS at Sefwi-Anhwiaso, and Sefwi-Bekwai.

Mr Obeng-Boateng expressed confidence that the project would be ready for commissioning before the end of the year to help support sports infrastructural development in the area.

Oyeadeeyie Basape Kojo Armah III, the Paramount of Chief Sefwi-Bekwai Traditional Area, who chaired the occasion, commended the Government and the MP for their numerous development interventions in the Municipality.

He indicated that the Astroturf, when completed, would go a long way to help enhance sports and promote other recreational activities in the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Accra 2023 African Games has taken their awareness campaign to Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, part of efforts to promote the event, slated for March 8-23, in Accra.

The LOC over the weekend were actively involved in the promotion of the event during the J.A. Kufuor Cup Match between Asante Kotoko and Nsoatreman FC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi.

LOC of Accra 2023, was one of the major partners of the cup match, which was organized to honour the former President John Agyekum Kufuor as well as raise funds for the J.A. Kufuor Foundation.

Over 10,000 Senior High School students drawn from the Ashanti Region were sponsored by the LOC to attend the historic match and were all in the T Shirts of the Accra 2023 African Games.

In addition, the LOC also sponsored the Player of the Match award with a beautiful trophy, which eventually went to Steve Mukwalo of Asante Kotoko, who scored the winning goal for Kotoko to emerge victorious.

Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare – Ex
ecutive Chairman of the LOC said they were privileged to be part of the designed to honour the former President.

He said, though the Games would be in Accra, there was the need to take their awareness campaign to Kumasi to sensitize the people on the event.

According to Dr. Ofosu Asare there was the need for the entire nation to be part of the Games and took the opportunity to extend invitation to the people of Kumasi to be part of the competition.

He said the Games was the most important sporting event on the continental calender, hence the need for total support from the entire nation.

He said they were looking forward to one of the most successful events in the history of the competition.

Over 50 countries, with 7,000 participants are expected to participate in the African Games, seeking for honours in 20 sporting disciplines.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) have come to a mutual agreement to reschedule the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The prestigious tournament, set to take place in Morocco, will now be held from mid-July to mid-August 2025.

The timing of the tournament has long been a bone of contention, particularly for European clubs who are disproportionately affected by the absence of key African players during crucial stages of the season.

Top European club owners and coaches have repeatedly voiced their concerns over the disruption caused by the AFCON, arguing that it disrupts the rhythm of their teams and compromises their competitive edge.

By shifting the tournament from mid-July to mid-August, CAF and FIFA aim to mitigate these concerns and ensure greater harmony between international and club football calendars.

This move has been welcomed by stakeholders across the footballing world, as it not only addresses the l
ongstanding issue of scheduling conflicts but also enhances the prestige and competitiveness of the AFCON. With the tournament now aligning more closely with the off-season for many European clubs, fans can expect to see a higher caliber of football and greater participation from top African players.

The decision equally marks a significant departure from the traditional scheduling of the AFCON, which has historically taken place in January or February.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Jean-Louis Gasset who was sacked as head coach of the Ivory Coast national team during the AFCON 2023, has been given the top job at Olympique of Marseille.

The Ligue 1 club made the announcement on Tuesday, after dropping Gennaro Gattuso on Monday.

‘Marseille would like to extend it’s special thanks to Gennaro and his entire staff for the unfailing commitment and professionalism they have shown on a daily basis and wishes them all the best for the future’ the statement released by Marseille read.

Gatusso leaves just five months after he was appointed. He joined the club last September, and has only won nine matches out of 24 as manager of the club. His sacking comes after Marseille suffered a 0-1 loss to 10-man Brest on Sunday.

His replacement Jean-Louis Gasset, 70, is coming from an unimpressive performance with Ivory Coast during the AFCON, which led to his firing as well.

The French coach is expected to revitalise the club which occupies the ninth position on the classification table, 23 points behin
d top side Paris Saint German who have 53 points.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Reverend Dr Ray Mensah the President of the Ghana Evangelical Missions Association, has charged Ghana’s contingent for the 13th African Games to uphold the highest level of self leadership and confidence during the competition.

That, he said, would propel them to victory and enhance their chances of winning more laurels for the country during the Games.

‘Self leadership is the most difficult type of leadership. It is easy for me as a director to tell people what to do, but it is more difficult for me to tell myself what to do.’

So, as a team, with just about two weeks to the start of the Games, we are challenging you to have the highest level of self leadership, that you know when to wake up, you know when to train, you push yourself,’ he said.

Rev. Mensah gave the advice when some churches and religious organisations, under the name Ghana Sports Movement, donated items worth GHS10,000 to the Team at its camping base at the University of Ghana, in Accra, over the weekend.

The donation was to assist the T
eam in its preparation for the upcoming competition.

Also, it was to give the religious leaders an opportunity to interact, share the word of God with, and offer advice and encouragement to the Team to propel them to victory.

Items donated included cartons of bottled water, fruits, bibles and daily life guide reading materials.

Ghana, will from March 8-23, 2024, host the 13th edition of the All African Games competition, dubbed ‘Accra 2023.’

More than 3,500 elite athletes from 54 African countries are expected to participate in the Games.

Sporting disciplines include Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Hockey, Arm wrestling, among others.

Rev Mensah cautioned the athletes against depending on external assistance stressing that; ‘Ways and Means without discipline will not help anybody.’

He also encouraged them to dwell on the home support to spur them on to victory in the Games to bring honour to the country.

‘I challenge you to push yourself, do what you have neve
r done before and God will come on your side,’ he added.

Established in the late 1990s, the Ghana Sports Movement was set up to promote sports in the country through evangelism.

The Group is made up of churches and organisations such as The Pentecost Church, Ghana; the Methodist Church; Royal House Chapel; Lighthouse Chapel International; Bible Society Ghana; Ghana Evangelical Missions Association; Scripture Union; Ghana Baptist Convention, among others.

Mr. Kofi Kakraba Afful, a Senior Leader of the Ghana Sports Movement, said the donation was the Group’s little contribution to the Team to help them deliver success for the country.

‘This is just the beginning, it’s not even the end,’ he said, adding that they; ‘We are hoping we may be able to do a second or a third donation on behalf of the churches, representatives, knowing that, as others have heard, now, they will come along with us so that what we can do can even be bigger.’

He urged the Team to do whatever to put smiles on the faces of Ghanaians.

Mr. Ernest Danso, the Chef de Mission (CDM), for Team Ghana, commended the Ghana Sports Movement for the support, and asked corporate entities to also assist the Team to cushion and boost their morale ahead of the competition.

He expressed optimism about the Team’s chances at the Games, saying the training they have had and resources committed to them would help propel them to victory.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Athletics (GA) has officially announced participating senior high schools for the maiden National Invitational Students Athletics Championship (NISAC).

A total of 56 selected schools from the 16 regions of Ghana would converge at the newly built University of Ghana Sports Stadium from February 24-28 to compete for honours and test the readiness of the facility for the upcoming African Games to be held next month.

The NISAC is a talent unearthing event spearheaded by the GA and Citi TV, a privately owned television in Ghana.

In an interview with GNA Sports, Madam Philippina Frinpong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Athletics mentioned that they were expecting over 2000 athletes and officials in the capital for the event.

She added that the championship would also serve as a practical learning platform for National Technical Officials being trained for the African Games.

The host region, Greater Accra, would be represented by St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School, Achimota School, Presbyte
rian Boys Secondary School, Legon, West Africa Senior High School, Accra Academy, Tema Technical Institute, and New Century Technical Institute, Dansoman.

The rest are Accra Technical Training Centre, Odorgonno Senior High School, Madina Technical Institute, Labone Senior High School, and Tema Secondary School.

The Northern Region would have Ghana Senior High School, Tamale, Tamale Senior High School, and Dabokpa Technical Institute representing while Kintampo Senior High School and Nkoranza Technical Institute represents the Bono East Region.

Mawuli Senior High School, Kpando Technical Institute and Comboni Technical Institute would represent the Volta Region while Walewale Technical Institute, Nalerigu Senior High School, and Kpasikpe STEM represented the North East Region.

Bono Region would have Sunyani Senior High School and Don Bosco Vocational/Technical Institute representing it while Fr. Dogli Memorial Technical Institute, and Dambai Senior High School represents the Oti Region

From Ashanti Region
, T.I. Ahmediyya Senior High School, Osei Kyerewire Senior High School, Opoku Ware Senior High School, Kumasi Technical Institute, and Islamic Senior High School are expected to represent the region.

St. Augustine College, Mfantsipim School, Adisadel College, Edinaman Senior High School, Biriwa Technical Institute, and Swedru Senior High School have been invited to represent the Central Region while Damango Senior High School, and Bole Senior High School made it to represent the Savannah Region.

Western Region would have Ghana Secondary Technical School, and Takoradi Technical Institute with Upper West having Wa Senior High School, and Wa Technical Institute with Ahafo Region being represented by Goaso Senior High School and Serwaa Kesse Senior High School.

The Upper East Region would also have Bolgatanga Senior High School, and Bolgatanga Technical Institute while Western North Region would also have Sefwi Wiawso Senior High School, and Bibiani Senior High School.

St. Paul Technical Institute, Pope John’
s Senior High School, Okuapeman Senior High School, Ghana Senior High School, Koforidua Senior High/Technical School, and Akwatia Technical Institute would represent the Eastern Region.

According to the CEO, there would be both track and field events at the championship and mentioned that some of the events to be competed for are 100m boys and girls, 100m Hurdles girls, 110m Hurdles boys 400m boys and girls, 200m boys and girls, 400m boys and girls, 800m boys and girls, 1500m boys and girls, 3000m girls, 5000m boys, and 4 X 100m boys and girls.

She added that other events for the championship are 4 X 400m boys and girls, 4 X 400m Mixed Relay, Long Jump boys and girls, Triple Jump boys and girls, High Jump boys and girls, Javelin boys and girls, Shot Put boys and girls, and Discus boys and girls.

‘Preparation for the event has reached an advanced stage with the various contingents expected to arrive this week. Most of the athletes are eager to par­ticipate in the championship.

‘We expect a very keen compet
ition because the quality of facilities would surely motivate the young athletes to give their best,’ she asserted.

Source: Ghana News Agency