by Silas Boahene | Mar 25, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Asante Kotoko’s recent woes in the Ghana Premier League persisted on Sunday evening as they suffered yet another defeat.
The Porcupine Warriors endured a 1-0 loss at the Baba Yara Stadium to league debutants Nations Football Club.
A late strike from Asamoah Afriyie in the first half sealed the victory for Kassim Mingle’s side, earning them all three points.
This defeat marks the fourth consecutive loss for Prosper Ogum’s squad in the league, following their previous three defeats.
Meanwhile, Great Olympics showcased their scoring prowess against Aduana Football Club at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Accra-based outfit secured a convincing 4-2 victory over the Dormaa-based side, extending their impressive form.
Defending champions Medeama Sporting Club and Dreams Football Club played out a goalless draw, while Berekum Chelsea rallied from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Bechem United.
Nsoatreman also suffered a 1-0 defeat against Legon Cities at the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu.
Bofoakwa Tano clinched all three points at home against Karela United.
Following their win over Hearts of Oak on Saturday, Samartex Football Club maintains their lead at the top of the Ghana Premier League table, holding a two-point advantage over Nations FC.
Aduana retains their third position in the standings.
In the relegation zone are Bofoakwa Tano, Heart of Lions, and Real Tamale United.
by Silas Boahene | Mar 25, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, International
On the concluding day of the men’s boxing competition at the Accra 2023 African Games, Ghana’s Black Bombers secured an unprecedented four gold medals, marking a historic achievement.
Among the triumphant boxers were Commonwealth silver medalist Joseph Commey, Olympic bronze medalist Samuel Takyi, as well as Amadu Mohammed and Mohammed Aryeetey, each claiming gold in their respective weight divisions.
The first gold medal of the evening was earned by Mohammed Aryeetey, who returned to the amateur ranks just last year in preparation for the African Games. Aryeetey secured victory over Tulembekwa Zola Livens from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the men’s Minimum weight division through a unanimous decision.
Shortly after, Joseph Commey added to Ghana’s gold tally by defeating Zambia’s Andrew Chilata in the men’s lightweight final, consolidating his success following a silver win at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.
In the men’s Bantamweight final, Amadu Mohammed emerged victorious against Zambia’s Mwale Mengo via a unanimous decision.
The final gold medal of the day was clinched by Samuel Takyi in the light welterweight final, overcoming a determined performance by Zambia’s Emmanuel Katema. Despite encountering challenges, including a slip in the third round, Takyi demonstrated superior ring craft to secure victory.
Friday’s remarkable achievement marks the highest number of gold medals won by Ghana in a single day at any African Games Boxing competition, highlighting the nation’s dominance in the sport. Additionally, it signifies the most gold medals won by Ghana in a single African Games competition.
Notably, Abubakar Kamoko, son of Braimah Kamoko, settled for silver after his defeat in the Cruiserweight final to Algeria’s Ousama Kanouni.
by Silas Boahene | Mar 25, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, International
Abubakar Kamoko, son of retired Ghanaian boxing legend Bukom Banku, has made history at the recently concluded 2023 African Games by claiming a silver medal, surpassing his father’s achievements from 25 years ago.
Competing in the fiercely contested 86kg cruiserweight category, Kamoko initially secured his place in the semifinals with an outstanding performance, matching his father’s record by clinching a bronze medal.
However, Kamoko’s determination drove him further as he triumphed over Nathan Mbeli Ndlandu of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a closely contested match, securing a spot in the finals.
Despite his ambition to claim the ultimate prize, Kamoko faced a tough challenge in the finals against Algerian boxer Kanouni Ousama, who emerged victorious with a 5-0 decision, denying Ghana another gold in boxing.
Nevertheless, Kamoko’s silver medal adds to Ghana’s impressive performance in boxing at the Games. Ghana secured four gold, one silver, and two bronze medals in the boxing discipline, finishing third overall behind Nigeria and Algeria.
Among the gold medalists were Mohammed Aryeetey in Men’s 48Kg, Mohammed Amadu in Men’s Bantamweight (54kg), Joseph Commey in Men’s 60kg, and Samuel Takyi in the Light Welterweight (63.5Kg) category.
Additionally, Theophilus Allotey and Janet Acqua also secured bronze medals for Ghana in Men’s 51kg and Women’s 48Kg categories, respectively.
The remarkable achievements of these boxers contributed to Ghana’s overall success at the African Games, where the nation secured a record-breaking 68 medals, including 19 gold, 29 silver, and 20 bronze medals.
This outstanding performance propelled Ghana to sixth place out of 53 participating nations, marking a significant improvement from its 15th position in the previous edition in Rabat in 2019, where it garnered only 13 medals.
Despite Egypt retaining its title as defending champions, the nation fell short of its previous record, amassing 187 medals, including 99 golds. Nigeria secured the runner-up position with 120 medals, while South Africa moved up to third place, pushing Algeria down to fourth in the final rankings.
Ghana’s success in boxing and overall performance at the 2023 African Games serves as a testament to the nation’s sporting prowess and dedication, showcasing the talent and determination of its athletes on the continental stage.
by Silas Boahene | Mar 25, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Telecommunications giant MTN has reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing the MTN FA Cup competition through engaging activations, while also advocating for greater gender inclusivity in the tournament, particularly at the quarter-final stage and beyond.
In addition to providing GH¢1.5 million in support for the competition annually until 2026, MTN has proposed to the FA the consideration of gender diversity in officiating roles.
Germain Nartey, Senior Manager of Brands Communications at MTN Ghana, emphasized the importance of inclusivity, suggesting the utilization of an all-female officiating team following the recent celebration of International Women’s Day. This move, he believes, would not only encourage women to participate in officiating roles but also attract more female participants to the competition.
Furthermore, MTN has outlined various initiatives aimed at drawing a larger audience to the tournament as it reaches its climax. These initiatives include collaborative efforts with media partners to establish the ‘MTN FA Cup Arena,’ featuring discussions and call-in segments for audience engagement and prize opportunities.
Street quizzes on social media, alongside activations offering prizes and match tickets, are also part of the strategy to engage fans. MTN plans to ignite community participation by partnering with local park managers and radio stations to host activations at weekend Community Game Centres, providing amenities and incentives to attendees.
Nartey emphasized the importance of these community engagements in fostering discussions, networking opportunities, and economic development within localities.
Additionally, Fan Zones will be set up at various stadia on match days, offering fans the chance to participate in activities such as Target Shooting and the Wheel of Fortune to win prizes.
Looking ahead to the 2023/2024 season, MTN anticipates a thrilling competition filled with remarkable skills and memorable moments. The draw for the quarter-finals has set the stage for exciting matchups, including clashes between defending champions Dreams FC and lower-tier side Soccer Intellectuals, as well as premier league teams Nsoatreman FC versus Karela United, and Legon Cities against Bechem Utd.
Chairman of the MTN FA Cup Committee, Wilson Arthur, emphasized the high level of competition despite the absence of top clubs like Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko. He encouraged families, especially women and children, to attend the matches for an enjoyable experience.
by Silas Boahene | Mar 25, 2024 | Africa, Athletics, Europe, Ghana, International
Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah, the Ghanaian high jumper who recently clinched gold at the African Games, is now in prime position to secure qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
With just three months remaining until the commencement of the quadrennial event, concerns have been raised among Ghanaians regarding the absence of qualified athletes in any sport. Hosting the African Games in Ghana was hoped to provide homegrown athletes with the opportunity to achieve qualifying standards that could propel them to Paris.
Following the conclusion of the African Games, an analysis indicates that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the 22-year-old athlete should secure her spot.
The Criteria: According to Olympic Games regulations, 32 athletes are eligible to compete in the women’s high jump in Paris. The automatic qualification standard is set at a height of 1.97m, to be achieved between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. Alternatively, athletes can qualify through rankings, accumulating a certain number of points.
Presently, only ten athletes have met the entry standard of 1.97m.
Participation in recognized competitions enhances athletes’ chances of meeting qualification criteria or improving their rankings. Yeboah’s presence at the African Games in Accra was crucial for this reason. Although she achieved a height of 1.90m, securing a gold medal, it fell short of the automatic entry requirement.
Given her performance, it is highly unlikely that Yeboah will fail to qualify for Paris 2024 with her current total of 1189 points. The limited number of international championships available to other athletes makes it improbable for Yeboah to be displaced from the top 32 qualifiers.
Yeboah’s upcoming competitions include the African Championships in Cameroon in June, where she could accumulate additional points. Additionally, she is expected to participate in the NCAA outdoor season, offering further opportunities to bolster her ranking.
Considering these factors, Yeboah is anticipated to be among the top 32 qualifiers worldwide by June 30, securing her place in the Olympic Games.
Furthermore, her ranking surged significantly, elevating her from 26th to 18th position.
