by Silas Boahene | Jul 15, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Tanzanian club Singida Black Stars FC have completed the signing of Ghanaian defender Ibrahim Imoro in a permanent deal, GHANAsoccernet.com can confirm.
The highly-rated left-back arrived in the East African country a few days ago to finalize his move on a free transfer.
Imoro has been unattached since terminating his contract with Sudanese heavyweights Al Hilal SC in July last year due to the outbreak of war in the country.
The former Asante Kotoko player made 10 appearances for Al Hilal in the 2022-23 CAF Champions League season, attracting significant interest from other clubs.
Before the war, Imoro was dominating the Sudanese Premier League in the 2022-23 campaign with standout performances, including scoring one of the best goals. The championship was eventually cancelled.
The 24-year-old made his debut for the Ghana national team in March 2021, coming on as a substitute in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe.
Imoro was named on the bench on Tuesday when Black Stars lost 1-0 to APR FC in the CECAFA Kagame Cup.
He becomes the second Ghanaian player to join the club ahead of the upcoming season, following midfielder Emmanuel Keyekeh.
by Silas Boahene | Jul 15, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Asante Kotoko’s new midfielder, Emmanuel Antwi, expressed his delight at fulfilling his childhood dream of playing for the club after signing a three-year deal.
“It’s a thrill to be here, as it has been a childhood dream of mine to play for Kotoko. I’m excited to wear the jersey and contribute to the team’s success,” Antwi stated.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who joined from Great Olympics, is eager to settle in quickly and make an impact. He acknowledged that knowing some of his new teammates would help him adjust faster.
Antwi is set to join the team at the Adako Jachie Sports Complex on Wednesday as they prepare for their preseason activities in Europe.
Kotoko has been bolstering its squad with recent signings, including Abdul Hamid Mohammed from Al Hilal and Sudanese striker AbdoelKarem AbdoelRahman. Antwi’s addition is expected to strengthen the team’s midfield, and his passion and dedication are likely to make him a fan favorite.
by Silas Boahene | Jul 15, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Tanzanian top-flight club Singida Black Stars FC have secured Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Keyekeh from FC Samartex on a three-year deal.
Keyekeh, 26, joined the team over the weekend and has already made his debut in the CECAFA Kagame Cup game against Rwandan champions APR FC on Tuesday.
Last season, Keyekeh led Samartex to their first-ever league title, scoring 5 goals and providing 2 assists in 32 matches. His impressive performance earned him the Best Home-Based Footballer award at the 2024 Ghana Football Awards held in Accra a fortnight ago.
Keyekeh’s signing is a significant boost to the Black Stars ahead of the 2024-25 season. His experience and skills will be invaluable to the team. The midfielder has already shown his quality in a preseason game, and fans expect him to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.
The Black Stars are poised to challenge for the Tanzanian Premier League title next term, and Keyekeh is expected to play a key role in their campaign.
Keyekeh is the second player to leave the Ghana Premier League champions for an East African adventure after Dauda Yussif Seidu joined Rwandan side APR.
by Silas Boahene | Jul 15, 2024 | Africa, International, Soccer
Abdellatif Akhrif, 24, and Salman El-Harrak, 18, went missing off Morocco’s northern Mediterranean coast on Saturday and have yet to be found.
Ittihad Tanger, the Moroccan top-flight team to which the missing players belong, informed the BBC that the search for the players is ongoing.
Five staff members of Ittihad Tanger were reported to be taking part in an excursion on a yacht rented from the beach resort of M’diq, north of Tetouan. They encountered strong winds and rough seas while swimming close to shore, causing them to drift away from the boat.
Emergency services rescued three club employees: Oussama Aflah and reserve team players Soumaimane Dahdouh and Abdelhamid Maali.
In an interview with Tanjaoui, a local media outlet, Oussama Aflah recounted, “Everything was normal – we woke up, had breakfast and rented a boat from the marina. On our way out to sea, we were even stopped by the coastguard who made sure our papers were in order and that we had life jackets. Everything was fine and we were swimming within sight of the shore and just a few meters from the boat before the sea completely changed and heavy winds took us away from the boat.”
Ittihad Tanger President Mohamed Cherkaoui confirmed that the search for the missing players is still ongoing. He also urged media members to be careful with the information they share about the missing players.
The club has been in Morocco’s top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first time in the 2017-18 season.
by Silas Boahene | Jul 15, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana
A near brawl erupted between veteran boxer Michael “Ayittey Powers” Okine and UK-based Ghanaian boxer Seth “Freezy MacBones” Gyimah at the Bukom Boxing Arena last Saturday, following Gyimah’s fourth-round knockout victory over Ibrahim Labaran.
Tensions flared when the ring announcer asked Gyimah if he was ready to face the seasoned Ayittey Powers. Gyimah, buoyed by his recent win, confidently responded while glaring at Powers. This led to a heated exchange, resulting in shoving and pushing before security intervened to prevent a full-scale brawl.
In an interview with Graphic Sports after the incident, the 44-year-old Powers, who holds a professional record of 22 wins, 25 losses, and 1 draw from 48 bouts, vowed to teach Gyimah a lesson.
“I will put this guy where he belongs. He thinks I am a pushover, that I am one of those boxers who easily falls to his weak punches,” Powers declared.
Despite his current focus on promotional engagements, Powers announced his readiness to train hard for a bout against Gyimah in the light heavyweight division. He emphasized his stature in Ghanaian boxing alongside Bukom Banku and Batie Samir.
“Banku, myself, and Batie Samir are the three pillars in our division. He has defeated none of us, so he can’t call himself a champion,” Powers stated.
Powers called on promoters and sponsors to arrange the fight, promising to reignite his formidable punching power to defeat Gyimah. “This fight must happen to stop this nonsense from this boy,” the veteran boxer asserted.
Gyimah, aged 34, with an unblemished professional record of 4 wins, remained undeterred by the confrontation. His recent victory at Bukom Boxing Arena further solidified his rising status in the boxing world.
