by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 23, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, will lock horns with Benin in a crucial pre-tournament friendly on Tuesday, June 25, as part of their build-up to the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed the fixture after initial opponents Botswana withdrew from the scheduled match. Benin steps in as a replacement for the second of three preparatory games arranged to fine-tune the Queens ahead of the continental showpiece.
This match follows Ghana’s confident 3-1 win over Malawi in their first warm-up encounter on Saturday. After facing Benin, the Black Queens will round off their friendly series with a high-profile clash against regional rivals Nigeria on June 29.
Coach Nora Häuptle’s side is keen on making a strong impression at the tournament, which kicks off on July 5. Ghana opens their Group C campaign against reigning champions South Africa on July 7.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 22, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian midfielder Kwasi Sibo played a pivotal role in Real Oviedo’s fairytale return to La Liga, helping the Spanish outfit seal promotion after a thrilling comeback victory in the La Liga 2 play-off final.
Facing a daunting two-goal deficit against Mirandés, Oviedo turned the tie around dramatically to win 3-2 on aggregate. Sibo was a commanding presence in midfield, lasting the full duration and anchoring the team’s resilient performance.
Joachin Panichelli opened the scoring in the 16th minute to extend Mirandés’ advantage, but Oviedo responded just before halftime through a composed penalty from Spanish veteran and two-time European champion Santi Cazorla.
The momentum shifted in the second half when Ilyas Chaira netted the equalizer to level the aggregate, pushing the match into a tense extra-time period, which saw two red cards issued as tempers flared.
Eventually, Francisco Portillo emerged the hero, firing home the decisive goal in the first half of extra time to secure Oviedo’s long-awaited return to Spain’s top flight for the first time since 2001.
Sibo capped off an impressive season, having featured in 38 matches, with one goal and an assist, playing a crucial role in Oviedo’s promotion campaign.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 22, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian international Inaki Williams has strongly condemned the defacing of a mural featuring his younger brother Nico Williams, after the winger was linked with a high-profile move to FC Barcelona.
The mural, originally painted to celebrate Athletic Bilbao’s Copa del Rey triumph in the 2023/24 season, has gone viral on social media—now noticeably missing Nico’s image. The act of vandalism is believed to be a response from angry fans upset over the 22-year-old’s potential departure from the Basque club.
Taking to social media, Inaki expressed his frustration, posting:
> “Behind an anonymous lack of respect, there is always someone too small to show their face.”
Athletic Club also issued a powerful statement, distancing themselves from the culprits and showing firm support for Nico:
> “The dignity of a club is also reflected in the way it protects its own. Those who erased Nico’s image from the mural… don’t represent Athletic Club. If they think they are part of this family, they are wrong: disrespecting one of our own is disrespecting Athletic Club itself.”
Nico Williams has been a standout performer for the Rojiblancos, playing a key role in their Copa del Rey success and UEFA Champions League qualification. His stellar form has drawn interest from Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Barcelona—with the player reportedly favoring a move to the Catalan giants.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 22, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
SV Sandhausen have bolstered their midfield ahead of the 2025/26 season with the signing of German-born Ghanaian talent Leon Ampadu from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The 23-year-old midfielder impressed during the 2024/25 campaign with Mönchengladbach’s reserve team, where he featured in 30 matches in the Regionalliga West. His performances caught the eye of Sandhausen, who moved swiftly to secure his services.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity at SV Sandhausen,” said Ampadu after completing the move. “I’m from the area, have watched many SVS games, and now I want to contribute to the team’s development.”
Sandhausen head coach Olaf Jansen praised Ampadu’s work ethic and positional intelligence.
“Leon is a robust, hard-working player with a very good sense of space. He knows the demands of the Regionalliga and brings the mentality we need to achieve our goals. I see a lot of potential for development in him and look forward to taking him to the next level,” said Jansen.
Ampadu is set to link up with his new teammates in the coming days as preparations for the new season begin.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jun 22, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Europe, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Wydad Athletic Club are staring at an early exit from the FIFA Club World Cup after a crushing 4-1 defeat to Juventus at Lincoln Financial Field. The Moroccan side, already reeling from a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in their opener, failed to bounce back and now sit bottom of Group G with no points.
Juventus took control early, with rising star Kenan Yıldız netting twice within the opening 20 minutes. His first came via a deflected effort after a neat link-up with Khéphren Thuram, followed by a stunning strike into the top corner that left the Wydad keeper helpless.
Wydad briefly reignited hope when Thembinkosi Lorch coolly finished past Michele Di Gregorio after a clever assist from veteran winger Nordin Amrabat. But their momentum faded after the break.
Yıldız added his third goal of the tournament with a composed finish, this time teed up by Randal Kolo Muani, before Dušan Vlahović rounded off the scoring with a late penalty.
Wydad’s only chance of survival now hinges on Al Ain pulling off a major upset against Manchester City. Otherwise, the CAF Champions League winners will see their Club World Cup journey end at the group stage.
