by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 7, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghana captain Andre Ayew has shared his excitement after rejoining French Ligue 1 club Le Havre. The 34-year-old signed a deal with the club until the end of the season, having played a crucial role in their survival last season.
Ayew, who brings a wealth of experience, is expected to bolster Le Havre’s squad as they aim for another successful campaign in France’s top division.
“The story continues. Alhamdulilah,” the former Marseille and Swansea City player wrote on Instagram following his contract signing.
The seasoned forward is set to make his second debut for Le Havre after the international break when they face Lyon on October 20, 2024.
Last season, Ayew, who joined Le Havre in November 2023, scored five goals in the league, including a standout goal that was a contender for goal of the season.
Before returning to Ligue 1, Ayew previously played for top French sides Olympique Marseille and FC Lorient, as well as starring for Premier League clubs West Ham United and Swansea City.
by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 7, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, will hold their first training session today at the Accra Sports Stadium as they prepare for their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sudan.
A total of 25 players have been called up for the doubleheader. So far, four players—Jojo Wollacott, Elisha Owusu, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Antoine Semenyo—have reported to camp after arriving on Sunday.
Ghana Premier League players Frederick Asare (Asante Kotoko) and Isaac Afful (FC Samartex) are expected to join the camp this morning. The remaining players will report later today for the team’s first full training session.
Fans are welcome to watch today’s training, but the sessions on Wednesday and Thursday will be closed to the public.
The Black Stars, led by coach Otto Addo, are in search of their first victory in the qualifiers after a 1-0 loss to Angola and a 1-1 draw with Niger in their opening matches. With just one point from two games, Ghana sits third in Group F.
The first leg of the qualifiers will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday, October 10, 2024, followed by the return leg at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Libya on October 14.
by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 7, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued an official directive to Kwesi Appiah, asking him to resign from one of his current positions before the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Ghana and Sudan.
Appiah, a former Ghana international, is currently serving as the head coach of the Sudanese national team while also holding a position as an Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA). His dual roles have sparked criticism from certain football circles, with some fans urging him to step down from one of his posts.
CAF’s directive is aimed at preventing any conflict of interest as Ghana and Sudan face off in a crucial doubleheader. The first leg of the qualifier is set for Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium, followed by the second leg on October 14 at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Libya.
With the qualifier fast approaching, Appiah will need to decide which position he will relinquish in order to comply with CAF’s request.
by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 7, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International
As Ghana prepares for a crucial 2025 AFCON qualifier double-header against Sudan this week, here’s a look at how the 25 Black Stars players performed for their respective clubs over the weekend.
Coach Otto Addo will rely on these players to help Ghana secure their first win of the qualifiers after a disappointing start. The match is set for Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium, with the reverse fixture scheduled three days later in Libya.
Goalkeepers:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi started for St. Gallen in their 1-1 draw with Servette in the Swiss Super League on Sunday.
Joseph Wollacott played for Crawley in their 1-0 loss to Wycombe in English League One on Saturday.
Frederick Asare kept a clean sheet for Asante Kotoko in their 1-0 victory over Accra Lions in a Ghana Premier League match.
Defenders:
Tariq Lamptey was an unused substitute as Brighton edged Tottenham 3-2.
Kingsley Schindler played 27 minutes in Samsunspor’s 3-1 win over Adana Demirspor.
Alexander Djiku completed the full 90 minutes for Fenerbahce in their 1-1 draw against Twente in the Europa League.
Abdul Mumin also played the full 90 minutes for Rayo Vallecano in their 2-1 win over Valladolid in La Liga.
Mohammed Salisu came off the bench to play the last eight minutes for AS Monaco in their 2-1 win over Rennes in Ligue 1.
Jerome Opoku played the entire game for Basaksehir in their 1-1 draw with Kayserispor.
Alidu Seidu was on the pitch for 90 minutes in Rennes’ 2-1 defeat to AS Monaco.
Gideon Mensah featured for Auxerre in their 3-1 loss to St. Etienne, marking his second game of the season.
Isaac Afful played the full game for Samartex in their 1-1 draw with Karela United in the Ghana Premier League.
Midfielders:
Thomas Partey featured for 84 minutes in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Southampton in the Premier League.
Ibrahim Sulemana came on for the last 13 minutes in Atalanta’s 5-1 win over Genoa in Serie A.
Majeed Ashimeru made a late appearance for Anderlecht as they won 3-0 against St. Liege.
Elisha Owusu played 83 minutes in Auxerre’s 3-1 loss to St. Etienne.
Mohammed Kudus opened his season’s goal-scoring account in West Ham’s 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Ibrahim Osman played 65 minutes for Feyenoord in their 2-1 win over Twente in the Eredivisie.
Ernest Nuamah saw 26 minutes of action in Lyon’s 2-0 win against Nantes.
Issahaku Abdul Fatawu came off the bench to play eight minutes in Leicester City’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
Forwards:
Antoine Semenyo played the full match for Bournemouth in their 1-0 loss to Leicester City.
Jordan Ayew featured for 88 minutes and received a yellow card in Leicester’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
Joseph Paintsil played 88 minutes for Los Angeles Galaxy in their 3-1 win against Colorado Rapids.
Brandon Thomas-Asante completed 90 minutes in Coventry’s 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship.
Inaki Williams played in Athletic Bilbao’s 2-1 loss to Girona in La Liga.
This weekend’s performances provide a glimpse into the form of the Black Stars players as they prepare for the must-win AFCON qualifiers against Sudan.
by Eliezer Ahorlu | Oct 7, 2024 | Africa, Basketball, Ghana, International
Ghana, the defending champions, will kick off their title defence against Liberia in the opening game of the Africa Basketball Festival (ABF) on October 24, 2024, at the University of Ghana Basketball Court. The matchups were announced during a launch event held in Accra on Thursday.
This year’s expanded ABF will feature ten teams, including the United States, last year’s runners-up, who will face France in the opening round. Other participating nations in the four-day tournament include China, Great Britain, Togo, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.
Ghana’s captain, Gabriel Ashaley, expressed optimism ahead of the tournament, saying, “We are confident in retaining the title. We are well-prepared for the challenges, and we have the team to deliver the results.”
In addition to the international matches, there will be a University Contest between the University of Ghana and the Ghana Communication Technology University. All games will be broadcast live on GTV Sports Plus.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Austin Luguterah, Director of the University of Ghana Sports & Wellness Directorate, emphasized the event’s significance as a “celebration of basketball, fashion, and music,” underscoring the power of sports to unite across borders. He also noted that the competition will provide a platform for discovering new basketball talent.
Yaw Sakyi Afari, CEO of RITE Sports, reflected on the tournament’s growth since its inception in 2019, when it featured just two teams from Accra and Tema. This year’s expansion to ten nations is a major milestone, and he hinted at future plans to involve more teams, fashion brands, and musicians.
The event was officially launched by Ghanaian boxing icon Azumah Nelson, with sponsorship from companies such as Indomie Noodles, GTS Drilling Ghana, GoldGod Entertainment, and GLICO General Insurance, among others.
Running from October 24 to 27, 2024, the Africa Basketball Festival promises to be an exciting blend of sport, culture, and entertainment.
