by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghana football legend Stephen Appiah has extended his support to teenage forward Daniel Asante Amoh following his loan move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
The 18-year-old attacker has joined Fenerbahce from Inter Millas FC and will spend the 2026 season with the club’s youth side as he continues his development in Europe.
Appiah, who enjoyed a successful stint with the Istanbul-based club between 2006 and 2008 — winning both the Turkish Super Lig and the Turkish Cup — took to Instagram to encourage the youngster.
“Daniel Amoah, wishing you the best of luck,” he posted, backing the promising forward to succeed in Turkey.
Amoh first caught national attention after an outstanding campaign at the 2023 Baby Jet U-16 Football Tournament, where he was named Best Player while representing Great Somas. His impressive displays earned him a move to Inter Millas and subsequently attracted interest from clubs abroad.
The young forward has already made his competitive debut for Fenerbahce’s U-19 team, featuring in their 2-1 defeat to Gençlerbirliği SK on Monday.
Prior to sealing his move to Turkey, Amoh had trials with Swedish top-flight side IFK Norrköping in the summer of 2025 but did not secure a contract. His switch to Fenerbahce now represents a significant step forward in his budding career.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Gambian official Ngum Fatou to referee the second leg of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Ghana.
Fatou will be supported by her compatriots Abbie Ceesay (Assistant I) and Jainaba Manneh (Assistant II), while Isatou Touray will serve as the fourth official. Cindy Barbara Dludlu of Eswatini has been named Match Commissioner, with Uganda’s Constance Catherine Wejuli Adipo appointed as Referee Assessor.
The crucial encounter is scheduled to take place at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, with kick-off set for 15:00hrs on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
The tie is delicately poised after the first leg ended in a 2-2 draw at the Accra Sports Stadium on February 8. Ghana’s Black Princesses had raced into a two-goal lead but were pegged back, leaving the qualification race wide open ahead of the return fixture.
The winner on aggregate will secure a place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
The Africa Cup of Nations may face a significant scheduling shake-up, with reports indicating that the next edition of the tournament could be postponed to 2028 due to concerns over host preparedness.
According to emerging reports, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee is increasingly uneasy about the readiness of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda — the three nations awarded hosting rights — to successfully stage the 24-team tournament across 10 proposed host cities.
Key concerns reportedly centre on stadium renovations, transport infrastructure, accommodation capacity, and overall logistical arrangements required to deliver a competition of AFCON’s scale.
The possibility of postponing the tournament is expected to be a major topic of discussion during a CAF Executive Committee meeting scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam on Friday.
QIn a separate but related development, there are also indications that Morocco could pull out of hosting the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, further adding to uncertainty surrounding CAF’s competition calendar.
While no final decision has been announced, any postponement would carry major implications for African football and participating nations as preparations continue for the continent’s flagship tournament.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Black Stars Technical Advisor Winfried Anton Schäfer has shed light on the crucial behind-the-scenes role he played in Ghana’s successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an exclusive interview with Medeama FM, the veteran German coach explained that his contribution went far beyond tactics and matchday instructions, focusing strongly on player welfare, communication, and unity within the squad.
Drawing from his vast coaching experience, Schäfer revealed that he immersed himself fully in the team’s daily routine to better understand the players and the environment.
“I was with the team at training, at dinner, at breakfast. I knew what we had to do and what my role was,” he said.
The former Cameroon national team coach emphasized the importance of building personal relationships across the squad — from senior figures to emerging talents.
“I spoke with Thomas Partey, I spoke with Jordan Ayew, and I also spoke with the young players. I listened to them. I didn’t just ask about football; I asked about their families and their clubs,” Schäfer disclosed.
He also highlighted the need to maintain strong collaboration with players’ clubs to ensure national team engagements did not disrupt their fitness or form.
“When players come from their clubs, you must take care of them. Club coaches want their players to return fit and not injured. That responsibility is very important,” he noted.
According to Schäfer, improvements in training conditions and matchday facilities also played a significant role in boosting player confidence and performance.
“Our training was better, our pitch conditions improved. These things are very important for players because the players are the most important people for us,” he added.
Beyond the physical and tactical elements, Schäfer pointed to the positive atmosphere within camp as a driving force behind Ghana’s qualification campaign.
“There was happiness in the camp. We talked, we laughed, we joked. The players stepped onto the pitch with confidence.
They didn’t go out afraid to lose — they went out determined to win,” he said.
He concluded by praising the entire squad, particularly those who played supporting roles.
“The players were fantastic. The bench was 100 percent committed to the team. The players outside the starting eleven were just as important,” Schäfer emphasized.
Ghana’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup represents a major achievement, and Schäfer’s insights reveal the strong internal structure, unity, and careful management that powered the Black Stars’ journey to the global stage.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Black Stars technical advisor Winfried Schäfer has delivered a strong message to home-based players, encouraging them to elevate their performance levels as competition for national team places intensifies ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The global tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature an expanded 48-team format. Ghana have secured one of Africa’s nine automatic qualification slots and have been drawn in Group L alongside England, 2018 finalists Croatia, and Panama.
Despite the league’s rich history, locally based players have found it difficult to break into the Black Stars squad in recent years. Currently, Hearts of Oak captain and goalkeeper Benjamin Asare stands as the only regular home-based player in the team.
Schäfer, however, has assured that the technical team remains committed to closely monitoring the Ghana Premier League. Over the past two months, the experienced German tactician has visited several match venues to scout talents capable of strengthening the national team.
He was present over the weekend when Medeama SC edged Samartex on penalties to secure a place in the quarterfinals of the Ghana FA Cup, continuing his assessment of local prospects.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Medeama FM, Schäfer stressed that the door to the Black Stars remains open for players who consistently perform in the domestic league and other local competitions.
“The heart of football in Ghana is in the local league, not only with players in Europe. I urge all players to work hard if they want to earn a call-up into the Black Stars,” he stated.
Schäfer acknowledged the increasing competition within the national setup but urged local players not to feel intimidated by Europe-based stars. Instead, he encouraged them to use the competition as motivation to improve and push their limits.
His remarks come at a crucial period as the Black Stars technical team works to assemble a balanced and competitive squad capable of excelling on the continental and global stage.
