by Silas Boahene | Jun 10, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Swedish top club Malmo FF has announced that Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Lomotey will be leaving their squad, transferring permanently to Ethnikos Achna FC on a free transfer.
Lomotey, who joined Malmo FF from French club Amiens SC in August 2022, made his debut for Malmo in a home game against Turkish team Sivasspor during the Europa League play-offs. In the summer of 2023, he was loaned to Cypriot club Ethnikos Achna, where he made 25 appearances across all competitions and scored twice.
During his loan spell, Lomotey played in 20 out of 26 league games, contributing to Achna’s tenth-place finish at the end of the season.
Before his tenure in Sweden, Lomotey played for Spanish clubs Extremadura UD B, Extremadura first team, and Villarreal CF B. He also represented Ghana internationally, winning the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations with the Black Stars B.
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by Silas Boahene | Jun 10, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics shared the spoils in a goalless draw at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, a crucial match for both teams as they battle relegation.
The Mantse derby ended without a winner but was not devoid of controversy. A mistake by Olympics goalkeeper Benjamin Asare presented Hearts of Oak with a scoring opportunity. However, after the first shot was blocked, the referee’s whistle ended the half, nullifying the rebound attempt and inciting frustration among Hearts of Oak fans.
The game was evenly balanced, with both teams sharing 50% possession and three goal attempts each, resulting in a stalemate.
This result leaves both teams needing victories in their final matches to remain in the league. Hearts of Oak must win against Bechem United away, while Great Olympics face relegated Real Tamale United in Accra.
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by Silas Boahene | Jun 10, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Ghanaian superstar Mohammed Kudus has reaffirmed his commitment to helping the Black Stars secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Following their recent 2-1 victory against Mali in Bamako, Ghana’s chances of qualifying have been revitalized in a tightly contested group, where Ghana, Madagascar, and Comoros are all tied with six points.
During a press conference on Sunday, Kudus emphasized the team’s primary objective:
“The belief has always been there. We all want to go to the World Cup; that’s our ultimate goal. It doesn’t matter how we get it.”
The West Ham United star acknowledged the challenges ahead:
“Our coach has his tactics, but sometimes the game gets tougher. We just have to do our best and get the results.”
Kudus is expected to play a crucial role in the Black Stars’ upcoming match against the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The match will take place at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Monday night, with kick-off at 7:00 pm GMT. A victory could propel Ghana to the top of the Group I standings.
by Silas Boahene | Jun 10, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Black Stars forward Antoine Semenyo has identified Liverpool and Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk as the toughest defender he has ever played against. In a revealing interview, Semenyo recounted how Van Dijk’s presence and skill impacted his performance during a Bournemouth matchup against Liverpool.
“Hardest defender I’ve faced is Van Dijk… I remember running behind then all I hear is this man’s footsteps chasing me. I’m thinking this man is fast. This guy is like 6 foot 4, 6 foot 5 and he is fast, like he’s got presence, you can hear him coming. His aura just put me off; I dragged the ball wide. It’s tough.”
Semenyo recently completed the 2023-2024 English Premier League season with AFC Bournemouth, finishing 12th. He registered eight goals and two assists in 33 league appearances. The 24-year-old also featured in Ghana’s 2-1 win over Mali in Bamako in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier and is set to play against the Central African Republic on June 10 in Kumasi.
Meanwhile, Van Dijk is preparing to compete in the 2024 European Championship with the Netherlands.
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by Silas Boahene | Jun 10, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Other Sports
Twenty-eight-year-old Ghanaian-Italian tennis player Jasmine Paolini missed out on her first Grand Slam title after losing to Iga Swiatek in the 2024 French Open Final. Paolini was defeated in straight sets (6-2, 6-1) by the world number one seed, Swiatek, at Roland Garros, concluding a remarkable run that saw her reach her first-ever Grand Slam final.
Poland’s Swiatek secured her fourth French Open Singles title and fifth Grand Slam overall with this victory. She has now won the French Open three years in a row. Paolini’s Ghanaian heritage comes from her maternal grandfather, while she also has Polish and Danish roots.
During her impressive journey to the final, Paolini defeated former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu and fourth seed Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. This achievement caps an outstanding 2024 for Paolini, who also won the Dubai Tennis Championship and the Italian Open in the Doubles event earlier in the year.
After missing out on the French Open Singles title, Paolini and her partner Sara Errani lost the Doubles final to American Coco Gauff and Czech Katerina Siniakova.
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