by Silas Boahene | Jan 25, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, International, Soccer
Morocco manager Walid Regragui has been handed a four-match ban following an altercation with DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba during their Africa Cup of Nations clash. The incident occurred after the Atlas Lions drew 1-1 with DR Congo, leading to a heated exchange between Regragui and Mbemba. The altercation continued into the tunnel, involving players and staff from both teams.
While two of Regragui’s match bans have been suspended for a year, he will miss the Atlas Lions’ next two matches. Regragui expressed regret over the incident, stating that he held Mbemba’s hand, but things escalated as seen in pictures and videos. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is investigating the post-match incidents.
Regragui was absent from the touchline in Morocco’s subsequent game against Zambia, where they won 1-0 to top Group F. Despite the coach’s regret, the CAF imposed fines on both federations and Regragui. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation plans to appeal, claiming the decision was unfair, as they believe Regragui did not violate fair play values.
Mbemba, addressing the media after the game, expressed respect for Regragui but mentioned having videos that were not shown on TV. Regragui responded, recounting the situation, alleging disrespectful behavior from Mbemba during the match and defending his actions during the post-match handshake.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 25, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Dramatic events unfolded in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Tuesday night as Cameroon and Gambia engaged in a captivating match in their final group game.
Christopher Wooh’s 91st-minute goal not only propelled the Indomitable Lions to the next stage of the competition but also sealed Ghana’s exit from the tournament.
Despite finishing third in Group B with only two points out of a possible nine, the Black Stars not only failed to secure advancement but also missed out on a substantial $30,000.
Therefore, if by some miracle, Ghana had qualified for the Round of 16 with such a disappointing performance, each player would have received over $30,000 from taxpayers, and the technical team members would have collectively earned over $60,000 for this subpar output.
This lackluster performance has left the author with no sympathy for the players and their situation.
With the Africa Games just 40 days away, Ghana, the host country, is facing challenges. Athletes, including boxers, track and field athletes, and badminton players, only recently moved to Cape Coast for their training camp, where they are reportedly cramped into tiny cubicles with three individuals per room. The Ghana Olympics Committee (GOC) is actively seeking $50,000 to support its members’ preparation for the Games, but the ministry claims to have insufficient funds for this purpose.
Despite financial constraints, the ministry has set ambitious targets for Ghanaian athletes to finish in the top 5 of the medal table at the Africa Games, aiming to win at least 100 medals. In the previous Africa Games in Morocco, Ghana secured only 13 medals, leaving a considerable gap of 87 medals to fulfill the set target.
With the Olympic Games just six months away, not a single Ghanaian boxer has qualified. The Ghana Boxing Federation is in need of economy-class tickets for its boxers to participate in a qualifying event in Italy next month. However, the ministry has yet to procure these tickets, which would cost less than $20,000 for the approximately 10 boxers.
In a perplexing decision, the ministry spent $600,000 to transport fans to watch the Black Stars and paid $400 as per diems to over 200 fans. Meanwhile, financial obligations to the Black Princesses for their WAFU B Girls’ competition victory in June 2023 remain unfulfilled.
Similarly, outstanding winning bonuses for the Black Queens in three rounds of qualifying matches and owed bonuses to the Black Princesses for their three rounds of qualifiers leading to a seventh consecutive U-20 Women’s World Cup qualification have yet to be addressed.
As the Youth Resource Centers decay due to a lack of funds from the National Youth Authority (NYA) under the Sports Ministry, the challenges within Ghana’s sports administration continue to raise concerns.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 25, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, International, Soccer
Ivory Coast secured a spot in the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 despite firing their coach on the same day. Morocco’s 1-0 win over Zambia ensured Ivory Coast qualified as the fourth-best third-place team. The victory triggered celebrations in Abidjan, with fireworks, cheering fans, and illuminated bridges. Morocco’s captain, Hakim Ziyech, became a local hero with the decisive goal. Although Ivory Coast endured a nervy finish, Zambia’s failure to equalize meant the hosts advanced. In another development, Mali, South Africa, and Namibia advanced to the last 16 in goalless matches, with Mali topping Group E.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 24, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
As Ghanaian footballers answer the call to represent the Black Stars, it is essential for them to acknowledge the immense pride and honor that comes with playing for the nation. However, a plea is made for players to recognize that taxpayers are making extraordinary sacrifices to support the team, especially in the midst of a prevailing economic crisis.
Recent disclosures from Ghana’s Youth and Sports Ministry, presented to Parliament, shed light on the financial commitments made by taxpayers in supporting the Black Stars. The breakdown of expenditures includes substantial amounts for AFCON qualifiers and other related activities:
- 2024 AFCON Qualifier (Ghana vs. Angola — Home & Away) — GHS7,452,437.71
- 2024 AFCON Qualifier (Ghana vs. Madagascar — Home & Away) — GHS8,395,434.13
- 2024 AFCON Qualifier (Ghana vs. Central Africa Republic — Home & Away) — GHS3,414,894.51
- April to June 2023 salaries of the coach & signing on fees — GHS3,379,548.10
- Airlifting supporters during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar — GHS5,324,721.89
These five items alone sum up to a staggering GHS27,967,036.34. Notably, this significant expenditure does not account for the latest tournament-related expenses in Côte d’Ivoire.
In a time of unprecedented financial challenges affecting even the elderly and a struggle to raise funds for critical healthcare needs, players and officials of the senior national team, along with the Ghana Football Association, are urged to acknowledge the broader national issues that could be addressed with GHS27.9 million and reconsider the magnitude of the current financial output.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 24, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, International, Soccer
Ivory Coast, the host nation for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), has decided to part ways with manager Jean-Louis Gasset despite the possibility of advancing to the round of 16. The decision comes in the wake of two consecutive group-stage losses to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, the latter resulting in a 4-0 defeat.
Although Ivory Coast still has a chance to qualify for the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams, their fate depends on the overall group stage results determining their position among the top third-placed teams.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, the Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) announced the termination of Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant’s contracts, citing “insufficient results” as the reason. The FIF expressed regret for the team’s performance during the group phase but remains optimistic about the potential of the national team, calling for unity moving forward.
Gasset took charge of the team in 2022, succeeding Patrice Beaumelle. The Frenchman, with previous experience as an assistant coach for the France men’s national team and Paris Saint-Germain, faced a challenging situation with Ivory Coast in the AFCON 2023.
Despite a promising start with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau on January 13, subsequent losses to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea on January 18 and 21, respectively, have put their tournament continuation at risk. If they manage to qualify, Ivory Coast will face either the winner of Group B (Cape Verde) or Group C in the round of 16.
