by Silas Boahene | Feb 7, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, International, Soccer
In the aftermath of the dismissal of Portuguese head coach Rui Vitoria, Egypt has turned to its all-time top scorer, Hossam Hassan, to lead the national football team. The Egyptian Football Association announced the decision on Tuesday, appointing Hossam Hassan after the Pharaohs’ disappointing performance in the Africa Cup of Nations led to Vitoria’s sacking.
Despite Egypt’s illustrious history with a record seven AFCON titles, the team failed to secure a win in the current tournament, ultimately exiting after a loss to DR Congo in the round of 16.
Hossam Hassan, born in Cairo, played a pivotal role in Egypt’s AFCON successes as a forward, contributing to three of the national team’s titles. His prolific goal-scoring record includes 68 goals, making him Egypt’s all-time leading scorer. His playing career predominantly involved Al Ahly, his hometown club, with stints in Greece, Switzerland, and other Egyptian teams before retiring in 2008.
Since his retirement, Hossam Hassan has ventured into coaching, managing various local clubs and the Jordan national team. His aspirations to coach the Egyptian national team are now fulfilled with this appointment.
Joining Hossam Hassan in the coaching setup is his brother, Ibrahim Hassan, a former defender who also represented Egypt. Ibrahim Hassan will assume the role of team director, contributing to the leadership and direction of the national team. The decision to entrust the coaching responsibilities to the Hassan brothers reflects Egypt’s commitment to leveraging the experience and expertise of its football legends in steering the team to future success.
by Silas Boahene | Feb 7, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, International, Soccer
The Executive Committee Members of the Cameroonian Football Association have turned down Samuel Eto’o’s resignation as the President of the association. Eto’o had submitted his resignation following Cameroon’s elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the hands of Nigeria in the last 16 stage.
Eto’o, the former Cameroon international, assumed the presidency of Fecafoot in December 2021. His tenure, however, has faced challenges, marked by controversy over the past two and a half years.
The decision to step down came after a disappointing AFCON tournament where the Indomitable Lions, under Rigobert Song, barely advanced past the group stages, securing a thrilling win over Gambia but eventually losing 2-0 to Nigeria in the round of 16.
Despite Eto’o’s emotional involvement during the tournament, especially when Cameroon progressed to the knockout stages, the strain on him became apparent after their elimination.
In a statement released on Monday, Fecafoot announced that the Executive Committee had unanimously rejected Eto’o’s resignation, choosing to maintain their current mandates.
“The Executive Committee of the Cameroon Football Federation held a session this Monday, February 5 at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel,” the statement read.
“The agenda focused on evaluating the performance of the senior men’s national team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
“At the beginning of the meeting, the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Mr. Eto’o Fils Samuel, tendered his resignation to the members of the federal executive organ, inviting them to do likewise in good faith.
“At the end of discussions and subsequent deliberations, the members of the Executive Committee decided to maintain their current mandates and thus unanimously rejected the President’s resignation.
“Thereby renewing their confidence in him to continue with the same spirit of reconstruction and development of Cameroon football at all levels as envisaged in his plan adopted by the elective General Assembly of December 11, 2021.”
During Eto’o’s administration, Cameroon faced disappointment by failing to progress past the group stage in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, followed by their exit from AFCON 2023 in the round of 16.
by Silas Boahene | Feb 7, 2024 | Africa, International, Soccer
GFA Greenlights GHALCA President’s Cup Clash: Asante Kotoko vs. ASEC Mimosas
Former champions Asante Kotoko are set to go head-to-head with Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas in the 2024 GHALCA President’s Cup, an annual one-off game organized by the Ghana League Clubs Association to honor the sitting President of Ghana. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has approved the request from GHALCA, confirming that the prestigious cup match will be held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Scheduled to kick off at 3 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the President’s Cup clash aligns with Ghana’s Independence Day celebration. A letter from the General Secretary of the GFA, Prosper Harrison Addo, addressed to the Ghana League Clubs Association, officially announced the approval and reminded all parties to adhere to GFA Regulations regarding match organization.
The decision to host the President’s Cup on March 5 means that originally scheduled Ghana Premier League games for Wednesday, March 6, 2024, will be rescheduled. Defending champions Accra Hearts of Oak secured victory in the 2023 edition by defeating Asante Kotoko 1-0. The upcoming clash between Asante Kotoko and ASEC Mimosas promises to be a highlight in the football calendar, bringing together two formidable teams in what is expected to be a thrilling encounter.
by Silas Boahene | Feb 7, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Former Black Stars midfielder and current Assistant Coach of the Black Starlets, Laryea Kingston, is urging the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to appoint a Ghanaian coach for the Black Stars. Kingston emphasizes the need to move away from a heavy reliance on foreign coaches for the top coaching position.
In the aftermath of Coach Chris Hughton’s dismissal following Ghana’s disappointing performance in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, the GFA initiated a search for a new coach with a focus on finding an experienced candidate with a proven track record in managing national teams or clubs.
Speaking to Graphic Sports in an interview, Kingston expressed his interest in being considered for the coaching position and urged the FA to choose a competent local coach who is genuinely committed to the team’s success. He suggested that if an expatriate coach is brought in, they should have the experience to support the local coach.
Drawing on his coaching experience with the youth team of the Danish side FC Nordsjaelland and the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana, Kingston affirmed his readiness for the Black Stars coaching role if given the opportunity, citing his preparedness for the challenge.
In addition to proposing a therapist to address past grievances among former players, Kingston emphasized the importance of maintaining the existing squad while scouting for players who consistently perform well at their club sides. He highlighted the correlation between club form and national team performance, emphasizing that successful club players are likely to contribute positively to the national team.
Offering himself for the job, Kingston cautioned against overemphasizing experience and recommended focusing on competence. He suggested that candidates should present their plans to the public, demonstrating what they can bring to the team rather than relying on personal connections.
Kingston cautioned against selecting coaches based solely on popularity or former playing careers, urging the GFA to prioritize competence and a readiness to deliver success for the national team.
by Silas Boahene | Feb 7, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Former Ghana assistant coach, Maxwell Konadu, has officially expressed his interest in becoming the new head coach of the Black Stars. Konadu, currently managing Nsoatreman FC, brings over a decade of experience with the national team, having served as an assistant and interim coach from 2012 to 2022.
The opportunity for the head coach position arose after the dismissal of Chris Hughton, following Ghana’s disappointing performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, where they were eliminated in the group stages.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has set a deadline of February 2, 2024, for interested candidates to submit their applications. Sources from JoySports suggest that Konadu, alongside Michael Osei, are among the local coaches who have applied for the position.
However, uncertainty looms over whether Konadu and Osei possess the UEFA Pro coaching license, a prerequisite for consideration. Without the required license, they may face automatic disqualification from the selection process.
The GFA is yet to release a list of shortlisted candidates, and the timeline for such an announcement remains unknown. The association is expected to conduct interviews and assessments before making a final decision on the next head coach of the Black Stars.
