by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 12, 2025 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
In a fiery aftermath to Ghana’s narrow 1-0 victory over Mali in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Accra, Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the Black Stars’ winning strike.
The decisive moment came when Alexander Djiku found the net, sending Ghana to the summit of Group I. But Saintfiet, visibly displeased, insisted the goal would not have stood under modern video technology.
> “Had VAR been in use, Djiku’s goal would have been disallowed,” he told Sportsblog247.com, sparking fresh debate on the absence of VAR in the African qualifiers.
Despite the defeat, the Belgian tactician—renowned for guiding The Gambia to successive AFCON appearances—remained defiant, promising Mali would battle through their remaining fixtures to keep their World Cup dream alive.
> “Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will be tough, but we will fight to win our remaining games,” he declared.
Saintfiet also showed grace in defeat, acknowledging Ghana’s long-standing stature in world football.
> “Ghana will always be a giant in African and international football. Failing to qualify for AFCON doesn’t change that,” he added.
Interestingly, the coach revealed he once interviewed for the Black Stars job before Otto Addo was appointed—and would not rule out working alongside him in the future.
For now, though, Mali’s road to the World Cup has grown steeper, but with playoff slots still on the line, their hopes remain very much alive.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 12, 2025 | Africa, Athletics, International
It has been a long, frustrating wait for South African athletics fans. Since the glory days of London 2017 — when the rainbow nation stormed home with six medals, including three golds — the podium at the World Athletics Championships has been out of reach.
Eight years on, the hunger for a medal is stronger than ever. The drought has stretched across four consecutive editions, but the 2025 Championships in Tokyo offer a new dawn, a fresh chance at redemption.
Leading the 49-strong squad is sprint king Akani Simbine, who has carried the weight of South African sprinting for nearly a decade. Behind him is a wave of talent — Olympic finalists, world record-holders, and rising stars — all eager to restore the nation’s place among the global elite.
Akani Simbine – The Relentless Sprinter
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simbine ran the race of his life — a national record of 9.82 — only to finish agonizingly short of the podium in the greatest sprint final of all time. Now, in Tokyo, the 100m showdown is once again his proving ground. With the added firepower of the 4x100m relay, he stands as one of South Africa’s brightest hopes.
Zakithi Nene – The 400m Powerhouse
This season, Zakithi Nene has been unstoppable, clocking the fastest 400m time in the world with a blistering 43.76 in Kenya. He carried that form into the Diamond League, pushing Olympic champion Quincy Hall to the limit. With Van Niekerk opting for the 200m, Nene now carries the nation’s full hopes in the one-lap race.
Jo-Ane van Dyk – The Spear of South Africa
In Paris, Jo-Ane van Dyk’s silver-medal throw brought tears of joy to a nation. With her season’s best of 62.77m and consistent podium finishes, she is once again in striking distance of glory. Facing the world’s best — Kitaguchi and Vilagos — she knows she must summon her fiercest throws to claim another global medal.
Prudence Sekgodiso – The Rising Queen of the 800m
Every championship needs a breakout star, and Prudence Sekgodiso could be South Africa’s. The 23-year-old world indoor champion has been knocking on the door, recently smashing her personal best with a 1:57.16 in Ostrava. Though ranked ninth in the world this year, her fearless racing spirit could propel her onto the Tokyo podium.
As the championships kick off this weekend, the question remains:
Will Tokyo 2025 mark the end of South Africa’s medal drought, or will the wait go on ?
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 11, 2025 | Africa, Athletics, International
With Tokyo set to host the world’s best once again, the stage is ready for the 2025 World Athletics Championships — and this year, the stakes aren’t just about medals, but serious prize money too.
From September 13 to 21, athletes will light up the Japanese capital, just a year after it welcomed the Olympic Games. Among them will be eight Ghanaians, led by national stars Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, Ghana’s men’s 100m record holder, and Rose Amoaniwaa Yeboah, the women’s high jump record holder.
World Athletics has confirmed that gold medalists in individual events will walk away with a whopping $70,000, while silver and bronze finishers will earn $35,000 and $22,000 respectively.
There’s even more at stake for history-makers — a $100,000 bonus awaits any athlete who smashes a world record, whether individually or in relay races. And speaking of relays, teams that strike gold will claim $80,000, with silver and bronze teams pocketing $40,000 and $20,000.
For Ghana’s contingent, the mission is clear: chase medals, break records, and bring glory — with the added motivation of a life-changing payday.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 11, 2025 | Africa, Athletics, International
World indoor 800m champion Prudence Sekgodiso is gearing up for the global stage in Tokyo, but the 23-year-old South African is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.
Sekgodiso, who burst into the season with a sparkling indoor crown in China and a series of outdoor podium finishes, has recently hit turbulence. After slipping to ninth in the world rankings and finishing sixth in her last two races in Switzerland, she admits the road to Tokyo hasn’t been smooth.
“The weather was not really good, and also I had some medical issues, but now I’m fine,” she explained. A blood-related condition and the challenges of racing in heavy European rains drained her energy, but after treatment and rest, she insists she’s ready to go again.
The task ahead won’t be easy. All eight runners above her in the rankings have clocked faster times than her personal best of 1:57.16 — a time she ran twice this year. To snatch a medal, she may have to dig deep and break the 1:56.00 barrier she set as a season goal.
But Sekgodiso is refusing to pile on the pressure.
“I just don’t want to give anyone hope — or the country any hope — but I’m gonna give it my all. The plan is just to make it to the final,” she said with calm determination.
She’ll take to the track on the sixth day of competition, Thursday, September 18, hoping to still be in contention for the women’s 800m final on September 21, the last day of the championships.
South Africa’s team arrives in Tokyo carrying the weight of expectation. Since their six-medal haul in London 2017, they’ve endured three barren world championships — Doha 2019, Oregon 2022, and Budapest 2023 — without a single podium finish. Yet, with Akani Simbine, Zakithi Nene, Elroy Gelant, Jo-Ane du Plessis, and both relay squads in action, the drought could end in Japan.
For now, Sekgodiso’s focus is sharp but simple: trust the process, fight for the final, and see how far her legs and heart can carry her.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 11, 2025 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Accra Hearts of Oak have made a bold statement about their ambitions by rejecting a $250,000 transfer offer from a Saudi Arabian club for their in-form goalkeeper, Benjamin Asare.
At 33, Asare’s story is one of persistence and late bloom. Just two seasons ago, he was guarding the posts for Accra Great Olympics, a side that slipped into relegation in 2023/24. Today, he stands tall as both Hearts of Oak’s undisputed number one and Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper under Otto Addo.
His journey has been nothing short of remarkable. In the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season, Asare recorded 16 clean sheets in 31 matches, powering Hearts to a top-four finish and earning admiration for his commanding presence, sharp reflexes, and leadership.
That form carried onto the international stage, where he made his Black Stars debut in March 2025 during the World Cup qualifiers. He announced himself with back-to-back clean sheets in a 5-0 win over Chad and a 3-0 victory over Madagascar, before turning in strong performances against Mali and Chad. Those displays helped Ghana secure 19 points from eight matches, tightening their grip on Group I.
Such consistency has seen him leapfrog Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Jojo Wollacott in the pecking order, cementing his place between the sticks for Ghana.
It is little wonder, then, that foreign clubs have started circling. But Hearts of Oak believe the $250,000 offer undervalues their prized asset—especially after tying him down with a contract extension until 2027 earlier this year.
The rejection sends a clear message: the Phobians are not ready to lose their talismanic goalkeeper cheaply. With both club and country relying heavily on Asare’s reliability, Hearts appear determined to keep their man unless a significantly higher offer arrives.
