by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 10, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Black Stars coach Otto Addo has assured that his team is ready to take on Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers without captain Thomas Partey. Ghana will play the Falcons today at the Accra Sports Stadium, with a kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT.
Partey is unavailable due to a medical issue, and Mohammed Kudus will captain the side in his absence. Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Addo emphasized his confidence in the players currently in camp, downplaying the impact of missing stars.
“This is part of my role as coach. We’ve explored different tactical options, and I’ve made a decision that I’m confident will work. Our focus is on the players we have here, not on those who are absent, and finding ways to get the best out of them,” he said.
Ghana, seeking their first win in the qualifiers, will face Libya in the second leg of the tie at the Martyrs of February Stadium. Currently, the Black Stars are third in Group F with just one point.
by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 9, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Ghana is eager to secure all three points in their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium on October 10, 2024. After a rough start in Group F, the Black Stars have only one point, having lost 1-0 to Angola and drawn 1-1 with Niger. They currently sit third in the group, five points behind leaders Angola.
Head coach Otto Addo will face former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, now leading Sudan. Sudan, meanwhile, started their campaign with a win against Niger but fell to Angola. They currently hold second place, two points ahead of Ghana. This match is crucial for Ghana to revive their qualification hopes.
The teams last met in AFCON 2021 qualifiers, where both sides secured a win each.
by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 9, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Ghana’s Senior National Team Head Coach, Otto Addo, will meet the press on Wednesday, October 8, 2024, for a pre-match briefing ahead of the crucial AFCON qualifier against Sudan. The press conference will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium’s Conference Room as part of preparations for the match scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Coach Addo is expected to provide updates on player fitness and team readiness as Ghana seeks to secure a win to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Ghana currently sits third in their group with one point, while Sudan holds three points.
Sudan’s press conference will occur at 3:30 pm, followed by a training session at 4 pm. Ghana’s media session will start at 5 pm, with training scheduled at 5:30 pm. The media will be allowed to watch the first 15 minutes of both teams’ training sessions.
by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 9, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Libya’s Mediterranean Knights have arrived in Uyo, Nigeria, ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifying match against the Super Eagles, according to Sportblog247.com.
The Libyan team traveled from Tripoli to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, before making the road trip to Uyo. They are set to face Nigeria on Friday, October 11, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
This match is part of the third round of Group D qualifiers and is vital for both teams as they fight for a spot in the tournament, which will be held in Morocco.
For Libya, this game marks the first under new coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri, who took over from Serbian Milutin Sredojevic following the team’s disappointing start to the qualifiers. Currently struggling in Group D, Libya sees this fixture as a chance to revive their campaign.
After holding their final training session in Tripoli, the Knights will train in Uyo on Wednesday morning to acclimatize and fine-tune their tactics before the high-stakes encounter.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are deep into their preparations for the match. Interim coach Austin Eguavoen, who stepped in after Finidi George’s departure, led the team’s first training session on Tuesday evening.
So far, twenty players have reported to camp, including key figures such as Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman, Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey, along with Nottingham Forest stars Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina.
Also present were defensive stalwart William Troost-Ekong, Moses Simon, and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. Still missing are Sevilla’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidera Ejuke, and Fenerbahçe’s Bright Osayi-Samuel, who are expected to join the team soon.
The Super Eagles, with four points from their first two games, are eager to continue their strong start to the qualifiers and capitalize on home advantage.
After the Uyo match, the two teams will meet again for the reverse fixture on October 15 at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi, Libya.
by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 9, 2024 | Africa, Athletics, Ghana
Bawah Fuseini, the President of Ghana Athletics, has called on the government to renovate the El Wak Sports Stadium, which has fallen into a state of disrepair.
Once a central venue for athletics and sports events, the stadium can no longer host competitions, such as the Security Services Sports Association (SESSA) Games, due to the poor condition of its tracks.
During the launch of the 2024 SESSA Games, Fuseini expressed his disappointment over the necessity to relocate the event to the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, placing additional strain on its top-notch athletics tracks.
He stated, “We ask ourselves, why aren’t we hosting this at El Wak? It’s because of the track’s condition. We are appealing to the government, through our board chairman and Acting Director General, Seth Panwun Boyoyo, to renovate El Wak and other facilities nationwide. This will relieve pressure on the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, allowing its world-class tracks to be reserved for international competitions while using El Wak and other stadiums for domestic events.”
Fuseini further underscored the significance of renovating El Wak and other sports facilities to enhance the development of athletics and various sports disciplines throughout the country. “We appeal to the Ministry and the government to refurbish El Wak’s tracks, which serve as a hub for athletics and SESSA among security services. Renovating it will greatly boost athletics and sports development across the nation, as SESSA includes several disciplines beyond athletics,” he added.
This call for renovations comes at a crucial time when Ghana’s athletic infrastructure requires upgrades to meet international standards and provide athletes with sufficient facilities for training and competition.
