by Emmanuel Atanga | Dec 16, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
The past weekend was a memorable one for Ghanaian footballers across the globe, with several making significant contributions for their respective clubs. From Spain to Cyprus and beyond, here’s a comprehensive wrap-up of their performances:
Players on the Scoresheet:
Abdul Mumin: The standout performer, Mumin scored a crucial goal for Rayo Vallecano in their thrilling 3-3 draw against Real Madrid in La Liga, showcasing his growing influence in the Spanish top flight.
Matthew Cudjoe: The young forward found the back of the net for Sakhnin in their 1-1 draw with Maccabi Petah Tikva in the Israeli Premier League.
David Abagna Sandan: The APOEL Nicosia midfielder registered his first league goal in Cyprus, scoring a stunning opener and providing an assist in their 2-0 win over Enosis Neon Paralimni FC.
Highlights from Major Leagues:
In the English Premier League, Thomas Partey played 22 minutes for Arsenal in a draw against Everton, while Kamaldeen Sulemana endured a tough 15 minutes for Southampton in their heavy defeat to Tottenham. Tariq Lamptey saw 46 minutes of action in Brighton’s loss to Crystal Palace.
In La Liga, Inaki Williams played the full 90 minutes for Athletic Bilbao in a 1-1 draw with Alaves.
Over in Italy, Emmanuel Gyasi featured in Empoli’s 1-0 loss to Torino.
In France, Mohammed Salisu and Ernest Nuamah made notable appearances, while Andre Ayew saw action for Le Havre in their defeat.
In Germany, Christopher Antwi-Adjei impressed for Schalke in their 1-1 draw against Dusseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga.
Other Notable Performances:
In Cyprus, Emmanuel Toku featured for AEL Limassol, while Abagna stole the spotlight with his goal and assist for APOEL.
In the Israeli Premier League, Patrick Twumasi and Montari Kamaheni were involved in Beitar Jerusalem’s 3-2 win over Ashdod, while Cudjoe’s goal earned his team a vital point.
In Turkey, Emmanuel Boateng and Nicholas Opoku delivered strong performances, with Opoku playing a full 90 minutes in Kasimpasa’s win.
Emerging Stars in Other Leagues:
Ghanaian players like Kelvin Ofori (Slovakia), Jonas Adjetey (Switzerland), and Razak Abalora (Albania) continued to get valuable minutes for their clubs, further cementing Ghana’s strong presence in global football.
With standout performances from both seasoned stars and emerging talents, Ghanaian footballers continue to shine abroad, carrying the flag high in various leagues around the world.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Dec 16, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian midfielder David Abagna Sandan made a decisive impact on Sunday, scoring his first league goal and providing an assist to help APOEL Nicosia secure a 2-0 win over Enosis Neon Paralimni FC in the Cypriot First Division.
Playing at the Neo GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Abagna opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a stunning curled effort from outside the box, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. The former Ghana international didn’t stop there, as he delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Greek forward Anastasios Donis, who doubled APOEL’s lead shortly after.
The victory keeps APOEL in 5th place on the league table with 24 points, still 10 points adrift of league leaders Pafos FC, who have a game in hand.
Abagna has now registered one goal in 13 league appearances this season. In addition to his domestic contributions, he has also impressed on the European stage, scoring twice in five UEFA Europa Conference League matches.
The performance will boost Abagna’s confidence as he continues to adapt to life in Cyprus, with APOEL relying on his creativity and vision to push higher up the standings.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Dec 16, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Liverpool have reportedly entered negotiations to sign highly-rated Dutch-Ghanaian defender Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 24-year-old right-back has caught the attention of several top European clubs with his exceptional performances in the Bundesliga this season. Frimpong has already contributed two goals and eight assists in 23 appearances, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dynamic full-backs in Europe.
Liverpool see Frimpong as a potential long-term replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose future at Anfield remains uncertain. The English international is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Reports suggest that Liverpool have invited Frimpong’s representatives to Anfield to discuss a possible transfer. The defender’s contract with Bayer Leverkusen runs until 2028, but he has a release clause of €40 million, making him an attractive target for the Premier League side.
Frimpong, who began his professional career at Celtic before joining Leverkusen, has been integral to his team’s success this season. Liverpool’s interest underscores their commitment to reinforcing their squad as they aim to compete for major honors.
With talks underway, fans will be watching closely to see if Frimpong makes the move to Merseyside in what could be one of the key signings of the next transfer window.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Dec 16, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Russell Martin’s tenure as Southampton manager came to an abrupt end following a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, but in his final post-match interview, he defended the controversial decision to substitute Ghanaian forward Kamaldeen Sulemana just 15 minutes into the game.
The Saints collapsed early, conceding three goals in the opening 14 minutes as James Maddison, Heung-Min Son, and Dejan Kulusevski tore through their defence. Searching for answers, Martin made a tactical adjustment, pulling off Kamaldeen for defender Nathan Wood in a bid to stabilize his faltering side.
“I feel for Kamaldeen, but we’re 3-0 down in 14 minutes. (You) could take anyone off,” Martin explained. “We needed a defender to plug the gaps. Kamaldeen hasn’t had many minutes this season, so he wouldn’t have lasted more than 50 or 55 minutes anyway. It’s not about his performance, and I feel bad for him that it’s him, but we had to do something.”
Kamaldeen, starting for the first time this season, was visibly frustrated by the decision and exchanged heated words with assistant coach Matt Gill as he left the pitch.
The result capped a dismal run for Southampton, with Martin lamenting his team’s lack of physicality and inability to execute their game plan. However, the club’s board moved swiftly in response to the loss, relieving Martin of his duties shortly after the match.
Southampton now faces an uphill battle to salvage their season under a new manager. For Kamaldeen, the spotlight remains, as he looks to recover from a challenging evening and prove his worth in the games ahead.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Dec 16, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
It was a night to forget for Ghanaian forward Kamaldeen Sulemana, as Southampton suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.
Making his first start of the season, Kamaldeen’s outing was cut short in just 15 minutes. The Saints found themselves trailing 3-0 within the first quarter of an hour, with James Maddison opening the scoring after just 36 seconds. Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski quickly followed suit, leaving Southampton’s defence in shambles.
In a desperate attempt to stabilize his side, Southampton manager Russell Martin made the bold decision to substitute Kamaldeen for defender Nathan Wood. The move, intended to stem the tide, left the Ghanaian visibly frustrated. He was seen exchanging words with assistant coach Matt Gill on the touchline as he exited the pitch.
After the match, Martin addressed the situation, saying, “I feel for Kamaldeen, but we’re 3-0 down in 14 minutes. At that point, we needed a defender to plug the gaps. It’s not about his performance, and I feel bad for him that it’s him, but we had to do something.”
Despite the tactical adjustment, Southampton couldn’t regain composure, with Spurs continuing to dominate and handing the Saints one of their heaviest defeats of the season. For Kamaldeen, it was an unfortunate night, but the young Ghanaian will be eager to bounce back and prove his worth as Southampton look to recover from their latest setback.
