by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, Uncategorized
After a turbulent period in his career, Ghanaian winger Kamal Sowah is ready for a fresh start. The 25-year-old, once seen as a rising star at Leicester City, has found a new home at NAC Breda, where he hopes to reignite his spark.
Sowah’s journey has been anything but straightforward. Following stints with Club Brugge and a loan spell at AZ Alkmaar, his career hit a rough patch, culminating in a contract termination with the Belgian side. But now, with a two-and-a-half-year deal at NAC Breda, he sees an opportunity to rebuild.
His new club faces a formidable challenge this weekend as they go up against Dutch giants Feyenoord. Having settled in quickly, Sowah is expected to make his debut on Saturday, eager to prove himself once more.
For the Right to Dream Academy graduate, this move represents more than just a change of clubs—it’s a chance to regain momentum and remind the football world of his talent.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
In a thrilling display of skill and flair, Black Queens forward Freda Ayisi has thrown down a playful challenge to Black Stars playmaker Mohammed Kudus, igniting a friendly showdown of football trickery.
The contest, dubbed the “Tekkers With Freda Challenge,” began when Ayisi posted a video of herself effortlessly juggling the ball and executing dazzling tricks. With confidence and finesse, she dared Kudus to match her moves.
Kudus, known for his technical brilliance at West Ham, accepted the challenge but found himself struggling to replicate some of Ayisi’s intricate maneuvers. Fans were quick to react, enjoying the lighthearted competition and the rare sight of Kudus being outclassed in the art of showboating.
The fun rivalry has sparked excitement across social media, with supporters debating who truly holds the crown for Ghana’s ultimate flair master. Will Kudus step up in a rematch, or has Ayisi already secured the bragging rights?
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Ghana and LA Galaxy winger Joseph Paintsil faces an unfortunate setback ahead of crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after sustaining a quad injury.
The 26-year-old star, who had a stellar debut season in Major League Soccer (MLS), is expected to be sidelined for approximately eight weeks. This means he will likely miss Ghana’s upcoming matches against Chad and Madagascar, a significant blow to the Black Stars’ qualification campaign.
Paintsil’s absence also adds to LA Galaxy’s injury concerns, with key midfielder Riqui Puig already ruled out due to an ACL injury suffered last season.
With the new MLS season kicking off on February 23, Galaxy’s preparations for their opening clash against San Diego are now further complicated by their growing injury list.
For both club and country, Paintsil’s injury is a tough pill to swallow, as Ghana aims to dominate their qualification group while Galaxy looks to start their season strong.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Ghana’s Black Stars are undergoing a major transformation after their disappointing failure to qualify for AFCON 2025. At the heart of this restructuring is Desmond Ofei, a coach whose journey has been years in the making.
Ofei, who recently led the Black Satellites to gold at the 13th African Games, has been named the first assistant coach of the senior national team, replacing Joseph Laumann. His appointment has been met with praise, especially from former GFA Executive Council member Wilfred Osei Kweku Palmer, who has long admired his coaching abilities.
“I have known Desmond Ofei for a long time, and I know he is good enough to be part of the Black Stars technical team,” Palmer shared on Sportsblog247.com. “I even wanted him to coach Tema Youth while he was in Belgium, but it couldn’t happen.”
Ofei will work alongside John Paintsil, who retains his role as the second assistant coach, and Fatau Dauda, who continues as the goalkeepers’ trainer. The technical team also boasts new faces, including German tactician Winfried Schäfer, a 2002 AFCON-winning coach with Cameroon, who has been appointed as the Black Stars’ technical advisor and football director for the GFA.
Additionally, Kris Perquy joins as the team’s psychologist, while Gregory De Grauwe takes up the role of video analyst. With these changes, the Black Stars are hoping to rebuild and reclaim their place among Africa’s footballing elite.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 11, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Veteran football administrator Wilfred Osei Kweku ‘Palmer’ has raised concerns over the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) decision to retain Otto Addo as head coach of the Black Stars despite the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Addo, who was reappointed in March 2024 on a three-year deal with an optional two-year extension, has come under intense scrutiny after Ghana finished bottom of Group F in the AFCON qualifiers, failing to win a single match. The team managed only three draws and suffered three defeats in six games, leading to widespread calls for his dismissal.
However, the GFA’s Executive Council has opted to keep Addo in charge, focusing instead on strengthening the technical team ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking in an interview with Sporty FM, Osei Kweku ‘Palmer’ strongly criticized the decision, expressing doubts about Addo’s ability to lead Ghana to the World Cup.
“I don’t have too much confidence in Otto Addo, and the decision to retain him is risky,” he said. “For the Black Stars to play AFCON qualifiers without a single win is unacceptable. There is no way he should have been retained.”
To reinforce the coaching setup, John Paintsil and Desmond Ofei have been appointed as first and second assistant coaches, respectively. Fatau Dauda remains the goalkeepers’ trainer, while experienced German tactician Winfried Schaffer, who led Cameroon to the 2002 AFCON title, has been named technical advisor and football director for both the Black Stars and the GFA.
Additionally, Kris Perquy has been brought in as the team’s psychologist, and Gregory De Grauwe will serve as video analyst.
Ghana’s next challenge will be the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with crucial matches against Chad and Madagascar set for next month.
