by Silas Boahene | May 29, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Other Sports
Daniel Wadieh, Captain of the ‘Black Warriors,’ along with his coach Fidel Falgade, has arrived in Namibia to represent the Ghana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GHAMMAF) at the 2024 African Mixed Martial Arts Championship. The event is organized by IMMAF and the Namibia Mixed Martial Arts Association. The team is currently undergoing the registration process with the assistance of Mr. Raymond Philips, the Director in charge of Africa.
Originally, Team Ghana was to be represented by two international athletes: Daniel Wadieh, who is based in the Netherlands, and Rene Gilles, a Ghanaian amateur MMA athlete based in Germany. Unfortunately, Gilles was unable to join Wadieh due to a lack of sponsorship.
Collins Zoiku, President of GHAMMAF, met with Jeff, the Acting Head of Technical at the National Sports Authority (NSA), to discuss potential support for future events in Europe and Asia this year. Wadieh and the president are also in talks with other Ghanaian foreign-based MMA athletes in Europe and America to encourage them to represent Team Ghana.
“Make us proud, Captain! Ghana for Gold,” he said.
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by Silas Boahene | May 29, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghana’s amputee football team, the Black Challenge, clinched the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations title with an exhilarating 2-1 victory over Morocco in the final held in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday.
This win secures their place in the 2026 World Amputee Football World Cup in Panama. Despite conceding an early goal in the first half, Ghana made a remarkable comeback in the second half and extra time to seal the victory.
This triumph marks their successful defense of the title, having also won the previous edition in 2021. Additionally, the Black Challenge has now achieved a double over Morocco within the past year, having defeated them by the same scoreline in September 2023 to win the inaugural African Para Games.
“We feel very proud. The God we trusted made it happen. We’re champions in Africa for the third time in the space of two years. Despite the challenges we went through, we did it. It is a massive motivation to everybody that you might not have the support you need but you can go beyond the odds and make it happen,” said Stephen Richard Obeng, head coach of the Black Challenge, in an interview with the media.
Ghana received support from some Egyptians, as well as from Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans who had exited the competition. Mubarak Mohammed, who scored a stunning long-range goal, was voted the Player of the Tournament, and Richard Stephen Obeng was named the Best Coach of the 2024 African Amputee Cup of Nations.
The team is scheduled to return to Ghana on Tuesday morning. Minister of Youth & Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, congratulated the Black Challenge for defending their title, saying, “Your determination and skill have once again made Ghana proud. Kudos to the entire team for this remarkable victory!”
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by Silas Boahene | May 29, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Nigeria, Soccer, World Cup
Six African countries, including Champions Ghana, Runners-up Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Angola, Liberia, and Egypt, are set to compete in the 2026 Amputee World Cup.
Mubarak Mohammed was named the Best Player of the AAFCON 2024 tournament, and Stephen Obeng received the Best Coach award.
Samson Deen, President of NPC Ghana and the team’s top motivator, attended the final in Cairo. He has assured the players and officials that all their per diems, bonuses, and allowances will be paid.
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by Silas Boahene | May 29, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, International
The quest for a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics brought more disappointment for Team Ghana at the World Qualifying Tournament held at the Indoor Arena of the Huamark Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Ghana’s Light Middleweight (71 kg) contender, Henry Malm, lost his bout on a unanimous points decision to Belgium’s Mohammed Rachem.
Malm, who trains at the Discipline Gym near Ussher Fort in Ga Mashie, expressed his disappointment but remains optimistic about his future. “It was a painful exit, but I have learned a lot from this competition and about boxing. Transitioning from professional to amateur to fight for my country was a dream. I am very happy and proud of myself and Ghana. At least I won one bout in this keen competition,” he stated.
The second World Olympic Boxing Qualifiers saw 579 boxers from 133 countries competing for 51 slots.
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by Silas Boahene | May 29, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, International
The journey to secure tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has proven challenging during the second World Boxing Qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand. The competition at the Indoor Arena in Huamark Stadium has been a rollercoaster of emotions for the Ghanaian team, blending moments of joy and disappointment.
Out of the seven boxers representing Ghana, four have been eliminated from the running, while three remain in contention for an Olympic spot.
Upcoming bouts include:
- Light Welterweight (63.5 kg) Joseph Commey faces Emelio Garcia (USA) in the Round of 16, needing two more victories to qualify.
- Flyweight (51 kg) Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey fights Anvarzhan Khadzhiev (Kyrgyzstan) on May 30.
- Women’s Middleweight (75 kg) Ornella Sathoud takes on Aynur Rzayeva (Azerbaijan) in the Round of 16 on June 1, 2024.
The boxers whose dreams of Paris have ended include Amadu Mohammed (Featherweight – 57 kg), Henry Malm (Light Middleweight – 71 kg), Jonathan Tetteh (Heavyweight – 92 kg), and Mark Kojovi Ahondjo (Super Heavyweight – 92+ kg).
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