by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 21, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
When the referee’s whistle blew to start Ghana’s WAFU Zone B U17 opener in Yamoussoukro, few imagined the Black Starlets would spend nearly the entire match a man down. Yet just two minutes in, defender Gabriel Denyinah saw red, leaving Ghana’s youngsters to battle Togo with ten men for almost 90 minutes.
Captain Joseph Narbi refused to let the setback define the evening. Leading from the front, the lively midfielder made an early statement, ghosting into the box in the 9th minute to meet Mark Aboagye’s inch-perfect cross and smash home the opener. His goal sparked belief among the Starlets and the Ghanaian fans scattered across the Stade Charles Konan Banny.
Narbi’s influence only grew as the contest wore on. He dictated play with tireless running, sharp passing, and fearless tackles, often driving his team forward despite the numerical disadvantage. A clever second-half turn and shot almost produced a dream brace, but Togo goalkeeper Ninkabou Gantin denied him with a superb save.
Togo eventually levelled through Sultan Ganiou’s cool penalty early in the second half, but Narbi’s composure ensured Ghana stayed organised and competitive to the final whistle. His efforts did not go unnoticed: tournament officials named him Man of the Match, a fitting reward for a captain’s performance full of grit and class.
The Black Starlets now turn their focus to hosts Ivory Coast on Tuesday, where Narbi’s leadership will again be key to chasing their first win of the tournament.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 21, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, International, Soccer, World Cup
Ghanaian playmaker Mohammed Kudus stole the spotlight as Tottenham Hotspur battled to a thrilling 2–2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
From the opening whistle, Kudus dictated the tempo, carving open Brighton’s defence with incisive passes and clever movement. His partnership with Richarlison was especially potent—setting up the Brazilian for Spurs’ opener and creating two more gilt-edged chances.
The defining moment came late on when Kudus whipped in a pinpoint cross that was expertly finished, earning Spurs a hard-fought equaliser and salvaging a point.
With three assists and a relentless display of vision and creativity, Kudus reaffirmed his status as one of England’s most electrifying attacking midfielders. While both teams shared the spoils, it was the Ghanaian’s artistry that lit up the match.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 20, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Bibiani GoldStars’ CAF Champions League debut suffered a setback as they fell 2–0 to Algerian giants JS Kabylie in the first leg of their preliminary-round clash on Saturday.
The Ghanaian champions struggled to find their rhythm early, and the hosts capitalized. Medhi Merghem broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with a sharp finish from a right-wing cross. Later, in the 70th minute, Babacar Sarr punished slack marking from a corner to double the advantage and leave the visitors chasing the game.
Head coach Frimpong Manso admitted his side’s own mistakes proved costly. “It was a difficult game, and we made too many mistakes in the first half,” he reflected. “When you start losing passes in midfield against a team like JS Kabylie, you’ll always find yourself under pressure. We simply didn’t play well early on.”
The result means GoldStars face an uphill battle in the return leg in Algeria, needing to overturn a two-goal deficit to stay alive in the competition. Manso and his players now have a week to tighten their defence and sharpen their attack before the decisive second leg.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 20, 2025 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Ghana’s Black Princesses launched their 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign in style, claiming a 2–0 first-leg victory over Tunisia in Tunis on Saturday afternoon.
Al Ahly forward Mercy Attobrah set the tone early, striking in the 4th minute to give Ghana a dream start. Dreamz Ladies’ Sarah Nyarko nearly doubled the advantage with a dazzling solo run, but her effort was brilliantly tipped away by the Tunisian goalkeeper, leaving the visitors with a slender 1–0 lead at the break.
After halftime, Ghana continued to dictate play. Attobrah briefly thought she had her second when she finished off a flowing move, only for the flag to rule her offside. She didn’t have to wait long, though. A clever through pass from Linda Owusu Ansah on the left unlocked the Tunisian defence, and Attobrah coolly slotted home to seal a deserved brace and a commanding away win.
The return leg is set for September 28, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium. A positive result there would send Ghana into the next round of qualifiers, where they will meet the winner of the Eswatini–South Africa tie.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 18, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Asante Kotoko have shifted into top gear as they prepare for a crucial CAF Confederation Cup preliminary-round battle with Nigerian side Kwara United.
On Thursday, September 18, the Porcupine Warriors held a spirited training session at the Accra Sports Stadium, where head coach Karim Zito drilled his squad on tactical discipline and attacking transitions. Zito, known for his big-match experience, acknowledged the challenge posed by the Nigerians but expressed confidence that his team can seize the advantage at home.
The first leg is set for Sunday, September 21, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. at the same Accra venue. Kotoko will be aiming for a convincing win to ease the pressure ahead of the reverse fixture in Nigeria.
“We know it won’t be easy, but the players are focused and ready to deliver,” Zito said after training.
With the Ghanaian giants determined to make a deep run in the competition, Sunday’s showdown promises to be an intense West African rivalry.
