by Silas Boahene | Jan 14, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Soccer
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to commence their quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title with a crucial clash against Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ivory Coast on Sunday. Grouped with Guinea-Bissau and host nation Ivory Coast in Group A, Nigeria aims to begin the tournament with a victory.
However, the Super Eagles face challenges as several injuries, particularly in the attacking role, have ruled out Victor Boniface, Wilfred Ndidi, and Sodiq Umar. Coach Jose Peseiro looks to Victor Osimhen, the top scorer in the qualifiers with 10 goals, to lead Nigeria’s attack against Equatorial Guinea.
Despite a recent setback in a 2-0 friendly defeat against Guinea, Nigeria had a seven-game unbeaten run in preparation, showing promise with four wins and three draws. Ranked 42nd in the FIFA World Rankings, the Super Eagles are determined to start their AFCON campaign positively.
Captain Ahmed Musa expressed the team’s focus on securing three points in each game, stating, “It is always interesting to play in the Africa Cup of Nations.” Musa emphasized the team’s readiness, acknowledging the strong and ambitious nature of the teams in their group.
The Super Eagles campaign revolves around the mantra “Let’s Do It Again,” aiming to replicate the successes of 1980, 1994, and 2013. Equatorial Guinea, participating in only their second AFCON, qualified as group runners-up, displaying resilience in a competitive group.
Despite Nigeria’s confidence with a more experienced squad, they approach the tournament cautiously, taking it one match at a time and acknowledging the challenges posed by their opponents.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 14, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Soccer
Jose Peseiro, the coach of the Super Eagles, has emphasized that only quality players from the local league will be considered for national team selection. Speaking at a news conference in Abidjan ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening match against Equatorial Guinea, Peseiro expressed his readiness to invite top performers but stressed the need for Nigerians to recognize that selected players are ultimately from Nigeria, regardless of their club locations.
Peseiro, a Portuguese coach, expressed his desire to witness more local league games and acknowledged that some talented players in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) tend to leave the country after a successful season. While not ruling out the inclusion of local league players, he emphasized the importance of assessing players for their qualities and capacities.
“I have not said that no player in the local league can play for the Super Eagles, but I need to see if you have the qualities and capacities to play,” stated Peseiro. He affirmed that if he identifies local players with the required quality, he will extend invitations, highlighting the coach’s responsibility to choose the best players.
Peseiro also addressed criticism he has faced for not selecting more local league players, pointing out that counterparts in other African countries typically have one or two local players in their teams. He called for improvements in Africa’s local leagues to enhance the overall quality of talent on the continent.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 14, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Other Sports
West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus emerged as the standout victor on Friday night, securing both the Sports Personality of the Year and Foreign-based Footballer of the Year awards.
The 23-year-old successfully defended his titles from the previous edition, outshining James Dadzie to clinch the coveted Sports Personality of the Year accolade.
In the same ceremony, Gary Al-Smith from Multimedia Group earned recognition as the Sports Journalist of the Year.
The 48th Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards took place on Friday, January 12, 2023, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
This prestigious event, marking the longest-running in the country, aimed to honor and celebrate the remarkable contributions of sportsmen and women who brought glory to Ghana in the year 2023.
Here is the comprehensive list of winners from the 48th SWAG Awards gala:
- Sports Personality of the Year: Mohammed Kudus
- Footballer of the Year (Male): Mohammed Kudus
- Footballer of the Year (Female): Princella Adubea
- Footballer of the Year (Home-based): Jonathan Sowah – Medeama
- Footballer of the Year (Female, Home-based): Comfort Yeboah – Ampem Darkoa Ladies
- Athlete of the Year (Male): James Dadzie
- Athlete of the Year (Female): Rose Yeboah Amoanimaa
- Amateur Boxer of the Year: Abraham Mensah
- Club of the Year: Medeama SC
- Coach of the Year: Augustine Evans Adotey – Medeama SC
- National Team of the Year: Black Challenge (Amputee Team)
- Administrator of the Year: Mawuko Afadzinu – Ghana Table Tennis Association
- Discovery of the Year: Evelyn Dzato
- Armwrestler of the Year: Grace Mintah
- Table Tennis Player of the Year: Joanita Borteye – Table Tennis
- Tennis Player of the Year: Abraham Asaba
- Volleyball Player of the Year: Rashaka Katadat – Ghana Army
- Swimmer of the Year: Zaira Forson
- Para-Athlete of the Year: Haruna Tahiru
- Dedication and Valour Awardees: Cudjoe Fianoo, Nana Fosu Gyeabour, Agartha Hagan, Joseph Addo
- SWAG Top 5 Federations: Ghana Table Tennis, Ghana Tennis, Ghana Boxing Authority, Ghana Athletics, Ghana Football Association
- Long Service Awardees: Roseline Amoh, Maurice Quansah, Sammy Haywood Okine, George Kuntu Blankson, Barima Otuo Acheampong
- Lifetime Achievement Awardees: K Hlodzie – Handball, Capt. (Rtd) Andy Sam – Football
- Special and Meritorious Awardees: Herbert Mensah, Samson Deen, Moses Armah, Rev. Emmanuel Niiquaye, Nana Opoku Fosu Gyeabour II, Emmanuel Frimpong, Nii Otoo Larkyne, Osei Boakye-Yiadom
- Corporate Awardees: Malta Guinness Ghana Limited, Adamus/Nguvu Mining, SES HD+
- SWAG President’s Awardees: Dr. Kwame Kyei – Nations FC, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah
- SWAG Journalist of the Year: Gary Al-Smith
by Silas Boahene | Jan 14, 2024 | Africa, International, Soccer
On Thursday, January 11, FIFA unveiled an updated database highlighting clubs barred from registering new players. The list encompasses prominent African teams, six in Saudi Arabia, and five in the Argentine championship.
Among the sanctioned clubs are notable entities like San Lorenzo (Argentina), Wydad (Morocco), and TP Mazembe (DRC), all of which have secured continental championships and participated in the FIFA Club World Cup since 2010.
FIFA imposes bans, typically spanning two or three transfer windows, on clubs that violate transfer rules or have outstanding transfer debts to other clubs. Resolving the debt can lift the bans, as exemplified by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi club Al Nassr, which reached a settlement with Leicester last year.
While clubs facing registration bans can sign new players, they are unable to field them in matches due to their inability to register them with the national federation. Over the past decade, football giants Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid have all faced registration bans related to youth player signings, with the bans often suspended until the completion of appeals.
The current list includes three participants from the inaugural season of the African Football League: Wydad (Morocco), Esperance (Tunisia), and TP Mazembe (DRC). Zamalek of Egypt is also on the list, but details of its case remain undisclosed.
FIFA, in a statement, stated that the primary purpose of this database is to offer stakeholders, including players and clubs, as well as the public, an overview of clubs currently restricted from registering new players.
Notably, the database features cases involving Chinese clubs and numerous instances in Ukraine where clubs suffered financial losses due to disruptions caused by the Russian military invasion.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 14, 2024 | Africa, Athletics
World cross country champion Jacob Kiplimo is gearing up for the 10 km Valencia Road race in Spain on January 14th, 2024. Holder of the world record for the 21km and a double Commonwealth Gold medalist, Kiplimo is anticipated to face stiff competition from notable athletes like Rodriguw Kwizera (Burundi), Kenya’s Boniface Kibiwot, Philemon Kiplimo, Jacob Kosgei, and Bravin Kipkogei Kiptoo.
Following an outstanding performance and a personal best (PB) of 41 minutes and 5 seconds at the 15 kilometers Sevens Hills race in the Netherlands late November last year, Kiplimo has been diligently training in Kapchorwa under the guidance of his Ugandan coach, Peter Chelangat.
In an interview with Uganda Radio Network, Kiplimo expresses that this competition serves as a season opener and crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cross Country Championships. “I feel prepared and am hoping for the best,” says the soft-spoken Kiplimo.
