by Silas Boahene | Feb 21, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Nigeria, Soccer
The AFCON 2025 tournament, originally set to be hosted by Morocco, has undergone a date change, with the event now scheduled to take place in Egypt between July 20th and August 17th. This alteration was prompted by considerations of weather conditions following the AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast. Unlike the previous edition moved to January to avoid the rainy season, the 2025 finals will be played during the northern hemisphere’s summer months.
While this rescheduling may be a relief for club coaches and owners in European leagues, it poses challenges for African players. With the tournament commencing in July, players are likely to miss pre-season games with their clubs and potentially the initial league matches of the 2025/2026 season.
The tight schedule also means limited rest time for African players, making it challenging for them to integrate into their club sides after the tournament. The situation raises concerns about their readiness, as they miss a significant portion of training and team-building activities with their teammates.
Furthermore, the timing of the tournament may make clubs hesitant to sign African players in the summer transfer market due to fears of injuries during the competition. Fans might also have to wait to see new signings in action for their clubs, impacting the immediate impact of transfers.
Title suggestion: “AFCON 2025 Date Change: A Double-Edged Sword for African Players in Europe”
by Silas Boahene | Feb 21, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Ghanaian football icon Malik Jabir has expressed deep concerns about the current state of football in Ghana, highlighting the urgent need for a resurgence in youth development to enhance the national team’s performance.
Amidst growing dissatisfaction with Ghanaian football, marked by the ‘Save Ghana Football’ movement and a recent protest on February 14, 2024, Jabir added his voice to the call for reforms. In an interview with Akoma FM in Kumasi, he lamented Ghana’s struggles, particularly the failure to secure victories against African opponents in three consecutive matches.
Jabir underscored the importance of emulating successful football nations like Senegal and Mali by revitalizing youth football structures. He criticized the notion of expecting praise when the national team has faced challenges.
Advocating for a renewed focus on youth development, Jabir emphasized the need to rebuild teams at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. He stressed that a seamless transition for emerging talents is crucial in establishing a solid foundation for the Black Stars.
The football legend urged a realistic assessment of the situation, stating, “We shouldn’t be telling ourselves that football isn’t dead when we could not even win a single game in the AFCON at Cameroon and Ivory Coast.”
Title suggestion: “Malik Jabir Urges Youth Football Resurgence for Black Stars’ Success”
by Silas Boahene | Feb 21, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Former Black Stars midfielder, Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, has expressed worry about the current state of Ghanaian football and has thrown his support behind the recently organized ‘Save Ghana Football’ initiative. Agyeman Badu, who had a lengthy career with the national team, including winning the U-20 World Cup, voiced his concerns during an interview on UTV.
In support of the football enthusiasts who participated in a demonstration to highlight issues in Ghanaian football, Agyeman-Badu emphasized the need to address the state of facilities, specifically mentioning Tamale Park. He urged the football community to seek answers to pressing questions about the sport’s conditions, clarifying that the demonstrators were advocating for important improvements in football rather than attacking anyone.
by Silas Boahene | Feb 21, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Professor Joseph Kwame Mintah, the Technical Director, revealed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has undergone a comprehensive review of the License B coaching course, expanding it from two modules to three. In an exclusive interview with Sportblog247.com, Prof. Mintah explained that the initial structure included a 15-day theory module followed by a 30-day working attachment with a club.
“CAF has reviewed it, and now they want us to have it in 3 modules,” Professor Mintah confirmed. Despite the review, he mentioned that the training for the first two batches had already been completed based on the previous format.
“All these courses have to be sent to CAF, the videos, the contents, etc., for approval before we can get permission to run each one of them,” he added, highlighting the necessary steps for course accreditation.
For the upcoming second training session, Prof. Mintah outlined the new structure, with the first module lasting 8 days, followed by a 30-day attachment with a club, and concluding with a final 7-day module.
Prof. Mintah stressed the importance of providing effective coaching, particularly at the COLTS and grassroots levels for players aged 6-15. He expressed satisfaction with the 1700 license D coaches nationwide, emphasizing their role in training and developing players at the grassroots level.
“These license D Coaches have been equipped with the know-how to train and develop players at the COLTS level,” Prof. Mintah affirmed. He expressed optimism about the positive impact on junior national teams and clubs as a result of enhanced grassroots coaching.
by Silas Boahene | Feb 21, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, International
Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is gearing up for a showdown with UFC sensation Francis Ngannou, and in their recent face-off, Joshua wasted no time addressing comments suggesting that he’s vulnerable to knockouts, particularly after his 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz. Despite subsequent losses to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua has not been knocked out, bouncing back with victories over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius, and an impressive performance against Otto Wallin in December.
Critics have questioned Joshua’s chin and knockout power, but he maintains that his strength is underestimated. During the face-off on DAZN Boxing, Ngannou hinted that concerns about Joshua’s chin might be the reason fans doubt him.
The much-anticipated clash between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou is set for Friday, March 8th, airing on both DAZN PPV and Sky Sports Box Office. The event will also showcase an exciting heavyweight bout as Zhilei Zhang defends his WBO interim title against Joseph Parker.
