by Silas Boahene | Mar 21, 2024 | Africa, Athletics, Ghana, International
In a triumphant display of athleticism, Ghanaian high jumper Rose Yeboah soared to victory in the women’s high jump event, adding another gold to Ghana’s tally at the African Games held in Accra. Competing at the University of Ghana Stadium, Yeboah thrilled the home crowd as she successfully defended her title with a remarkable leap of 1.90 meters. This achievement not only showcased her prowess but also marked an improvement from her previous best of 1.84 meters, attained five years prior.
Despite her stellar performance, Yeboah’s Olympic qualification quest remains ongoing. Despite her valiant efforts, including an attempt at the qualifying mark of 1.97 meters, she narrowly missed out on the mark, falling short by a mere 0.03 meters during her third attempt at 1.94 meters.
Yeboah’s gold medal-winning jump was followed by Balley Fatoumata of Guinea, who secured the silver medal with a jump of 1.81 meters, and Darina Hadil Rezik of Algeria, who clinched bronze with a jump of 1.78 meters.
With this latest triumph, Team Ghana’s gold medal count at the ongoing games stands at an impressive 10, contributing to the nation’s overall tally of 47 medals.
by Silas Boahene | Mar 21, 2024 | Africa, Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Ghana, International, Nigeria, Other Sports, Soccer
Sunday Dare, the immediate past Minister for Youth and Sports in Nigeria, expressed astonishment at Ghana’s remarkable achievement in hosting the 13th African Games, considering the seemingly insurmountable challenges faced just ten months ago.
In an interview conducted in Accra, Dare, who played a significant role in the process through an AU committee, reflected on the remarkable turnaround. He noted that Ghana’s request for an eight-month extension to prepare for the Games appeared daunting at the time.
However, Dare commended Ghana, President Akufo-Addo, and Minister for Sports, Mustapha Ussif, for their unwavering commitment to developing world-class facilities within a short timeframe.
He highlighted the transformation, including the construction of a new stadium at the University of Ghana and the impressive Games village, as testament to Ghana’s dedication and efforts.
Dare emphasized the collective effort of the government, the Minister, and his team in making the event possible within the stipulated timeframe.
Describing the successful hosting as a source of pride for Africa, Dare highlighted the significance of political will, government support, and collaboration among stakeholders in the sports sector.
The 13th edition of the African Games, featuring 54 countries and 29 sports, is being held in Accra, showcasing Ghana’s multi-purpose infrastructure developed specifically for the event.
by Silas Boahene | Mar 21, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
In a thrilling encounter, Ghana’s National Under-20 team, the Black Satellites, clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win against Senegal on Tuesday night, propelling them into the Finals of the Men’s U20 Football tournament at the ongoing African Games 2023 hosted in Ghana.
The crucial match, held at the Accra Sports Stadium, witnessed intense moments as both teams battled fiercely in search of a breakthrough. Despite the deadlock persisting until halftime, strategic substitutions by Ghanaian Coach Desmond Offei injected momentum into the game.
With just 10 minutes remaining, Michael Effson from FC Samartex Youngster seized the opportunity to score a decisive tap-in, securing the much-needed lead for Ghana’s U20 team.
Despite relentless efforts from the Senegalese side, Ghana’s Black Satellites maintained their defensive resilience to hold onto their slender advantage until the final whistle.
With this victory, Ghana now advances to the final showdown against Uganda, where the ultimate prize of a Gold medal at the 2023 African Games awaits the triumphant team.
by Silas Boahene | Mar 21, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Nigeria, Soccer
Ghana is poised to clash with Nigeria in the highly anticipated final of the women’s football competition at the ongoing African Games, following their triumphant victories on Monday.
Nigeria secured their place in the final after a commanding 2-0 victory over Uganda earlier in the day, exhibiting dominance throughout the match at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
In an equally enthralling encounter, the Black Princesses of Ghana faced off against Senegal, a familiar opponent en route to their qualification for the upcoming U-20 Women’s World Cup. Ghana sealed a resounding 3-1 victory to secure their spot in the final.
Tracey Twum netted her second goal of the tournament, propelling Ghana into the lead just 18 minutes into the game. Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah extended the lead with a clever finish on the brink of halftime, showcasing Ghana’s prowess on the counterattack.
While the Teranga Lionesses managed to narrow the gap with a penalty early in the second half, Ghana’s determined performance ultimately secured their spot in the final showdown against Nigeria.
by Silas Boahene | Mar 21, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Other Sports
South Africa has opted to withdraw its men’s and women’s hockey teams from the ongoing 13th African Games in Accra, citing concerns over substandard facilities and inadequate preparation by the hosts. This decision aligns with recommendations from the International Hockey Federation.
The withdrawal was prompted by the unpreparedness of the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch to meet international standards for hosting the competition. Both the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the African Hockey Federation have been notified of South Africa’s decision.
According to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), assurances of readiness for international-standard competition were not upheld, rendering the pitches unsuitable.
In a statement released on Monday, Ms. Patience Shikwambana, Team SA’s leader, communicated the reasons for the withdrawal to the LOC. She highlighted concerns over potential harm to athletes due to the inadequate field conditions, as confirmed by consultations with specialists.
Shikwambana noted logistical inconveniences caused by rescheduling and emphasized the absence of pre-competition test events, which were promised during earlier site visits. The failure to conduct necessary field certification tests in advance further contributed to South Africa’s decision.
Given South Africa’s already secured spots for both men’s and women’s hockey teams in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the proximity of the African Games to the Olympics heightened concerns over potential injury risks for Team SA athletes competing under the circumstances in Accra.
