by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 27, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
West Ham United manager Graham Potter heaped praise on Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus following the Hammers’ resilient 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Kudus, who played a pivotal 97 minutes, showcased his quality and work ethic before being substituted for Guido Rodriguez in the dying moments of the match.
Aston Villa struck early through Jacob Ramsey, but West Ham fought back, with Emerson equalizing in the 70th minute to secure a valuable point. Speaking after the game, Potter highlighted the collective effort of his team, with Kudus playing a key role.
“It starts from Lucas [Paquetá], and Mo [Kudus] and Carlos [Soler] helped the midfield out. The lateral center-backs support the midfield, and the midfield supports the team. It was a good team performance, it really was,” said Potter.
He added, “We’ve been emphasizing teamwork, being compact, and hard to beat. I thought we achieved that. When we could attack fast, we did, and when we couldn’t, we kept possession well.”
Kudus’ impressive display continues to cement his place as a vital part of West Ham’s midfield as they push for success this season.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 27, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Former GHALCA Chairman, Alhaji Raji, has criticized Otto Addo’s inconsistent player selections, blaming them for the poor performances of the Black Stars. His remarks come in the wake of Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time in 20 years.
The Black Stars finished at the bottom of Group F in the qualifiers, managing only three points from three draws and three defeats in six games. Speaking on Asempa FM, Alhaji Raji argued that Ghanaian football is not entirely in decline but noted that the national teams, especially the Black Stars, are struggling due to a lack of consistency in player call-ups.
“I don’t think football in Ghana is generally bad. The issue lies with the Black Stars’ performance and other national teams,” he said. “The Black Stars are struggling because of inconsistencies. Every national team in the world has a core group of players, but with the Black Stars, it’s always different players being invited.”
He further emphasized that Otto Addo’s strategy of frequently rotating players has disrupted team cohesion and negatively affected their performance.
Despite intense pressure following the AFCON qualification failure, Otto Addo is expected to retain his position as head coach. The Black Stars will resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign in March with crucial matches against Chad and Madagascar.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 27, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Former GHALCA chairman, Alhaji Raji, has expressed his belief that Kurt Okraku’s tenure as President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has not been as poor as some critics claim. Speaking on Asempa FM, Alhaji Raji acknowledged the struggles of Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars, but maintained that Okraku’s leadership has brought some positives to Ghanaian football.
Elected in 2019 and now serving his second term, Okraku has faced criticism, particularly after the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and their back-to-back group stage exits at the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments. Their early exit at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar also added to the scrutiny.
Despite these setbacks, Raji pointed to the successes of other national teams under Okraku’s leadership, particularly the Black Queens’ qualification for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. This marks the first time the Black Queens have qualified for WAFCON since 2018.
“I don’t believe Kurt Okraku’s administration has been bad or that football has collapsed under his leadership,” Raji stated. “The main challenge is the poor performance of the Black Stars. Other than that, he has not been a bad GFA president.”
As Ghanaian football fans continue to debate the direction of the sport under Okraku’s leadership, Alhaji Raji’s comments add a nuanced perspective to the ongoing conversation.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 27, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Former Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) chairman, Alhaji Raji, has cast doubt on Otto Addo’s ability to lead the Black Stars following the team’s recent struggles. The Black Stars, under Addo’s guidance, endured a dismal campaign during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, failing to qualify for the tournament for the first time in 20 years.
Appointed on a three-year deal in March 2024 after a previous stint, Addo, 49, could only manage three draws and three losses, leaving Ghana at the bottom of Group F with three points. Despite these poor results, the Ghana Football Association has retained him as head coach.
Speaking to Asempa FM, Alhaji Raji expressed his dissatisfaction with Addo’s methods and leadership.
“Otto Addo is not up to the task as Black Stars coach, but he still remains the coach. People around him should advise him,” Raji stated. “He always demands closed-door training sessions, which I find ineffective.”
With the disappointment of missing AFCON 2025 behind them, the Black Stars now aim to salvage pride in the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers. They are set to face Chad and Madagascar in their final group matches this March.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 27, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Soccer
The stage is set for the much-anticipated AFCON 2025 draw, which will take place tonight at 20:00 and be broadcast live on SABC 2. Fans across the continent are eager to see how the 24 qualified teams will be grouped for Africa’s biggest football tournament.
The draw features four pots of teams, ranked based on their performances in recent competitions and FIFA rankings:
Pot 1: Heavyweights like Morocco, reigning champions Senegal, record-holders Egypt, and powerhouses Algeria, Nigeria, and hosts Côte d’Ivoire dominate this group.
Pot 2: Strong contenders such as Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, and Burkina Faso look set to pose a challenge.
Pot 3: Teams like Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, and Benin are ready to prove their mettle on the big stage.
Pot 4: The underdogs, including Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, will look to punch above their weight and deliver surprises.
All eyes are now on the draw, with fans speculating about potential “Groups of Death” and dream matchups. With AFCON 2025 around the corner, the excitement is palpable!
