by Silas Boahene | Jan 8, 2024 | Europe, International, Soccer
Franz Beckenbauer, the iconic German football legend celebrated as one of the sport’s greatest figures, has passed away at the age of 78.
Renowned for his exceptional contributions to football, Beckenbauer achieved the pinnacle of success by captaining West Germany to World Cup victory in 1974. Later in 1990, he again hoisted the trophy as the team’s manager.
Beckenbauer’s illustrious career included 582 appearances for Bayern Munich, where he triumphed in the German top flight both as a player and a manager. Affectionately known as “Der Kaiser,” he not only secured the European Championship in 1972 but also claimed the Ballon d’Or accolade twice during his playing years.
His family conveyed the sad news through a statement to German news agency DPA, expressing that Franz Beckenbauer passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, surrounded by loved ones. The family has requested privacy during this time of mourning.
In response to the loss, Bayern Munich, Germany’s most successful football club, shared a poignant message, stating, “The world of FC Bayern is no longer what it used to be – suddenly darker, quieter, poorer.” The football community and fans around the globe are coming together to pay their respects to the enduring legacy of this football icon.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 8, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, International, Soccer
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, currently on international duty with Egypt, has seen his agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, respond to recent discussions about the player’s future at Liverpool.
During the summer transfer window, Al-Ittihad expressed strong interest in Salah, submitting a substantial £150 million offer that Liverpool firmly rejected. The proposed deal included an initial £100 million with additional add-ons, ultimately valuing the transfer at £150 million. Despite the tempting offer, Liverpool remained resolute in their decision to retain Salah.
As one of Liverpool’s key players, the 31-year-old has continued to perform impressively, scoring 18 goals in 27 appearances this season. Speculation surrounding Salah’s future at Anfield persists, and in a recent response to a tweet from March the previous year, where it was claimed Salah desired a move to Spain, Abbas Issa cryptically stated, “You just don’t know.”
Salah committed to a new incentivized contract until 2025 in July 2022, securing his position as the highest-paid player in the club’s history. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp addressed Salah’s future in November, affirming that the player had not expressed any desire to leave. Salah was absent from Liverpool’s recent 2-0 FA Cup victory over Arsenal, as he is currently away with the Egyptian national team preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 8, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Leicester City’s manager, Enzo Maresca, sees Abdul Fatawu’s exclusion from Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations squad as a chance for the winger to impress and potentially secure a permanent move to the club. Maresca welcomes Fatawu’s availability for the next six weeks, highlighting the player’s good form and emphasizing the opportunity for the 19-year-old to showcase his skills.
Maresca expressed his preference for Fatawu’s presence at Leicester over his international duties, citing the advantages of having the player available throughout January. As a loan player from Sporting Lisbon, Fatawu’s situation offers the club future options, and Maresca believes the extended time with the team allows for a more informed decision about the player’s future.
Contrary to reports from Portugal suggesting a compulsory purchase agreement of €17m (£14.7m) tied to promotion, Maresca remains optimistic about the club’s decision-making flexibility. There are also speculations from Ghana that Fatawu may have declined the national team call-up to focus on meeting specific contractual criteria for a purchase clause in his loan agreement.
While Maresca is uncertain about the accuracy of reports from Ghana, he welcomes the prospect and mentions that Fatawu’s exclusion from the national team was communicated to him on Sunday night. The reasons behind this decision remain unclear, with Maresca expressing uncertainty about whether Fatawu and the national team manager had discussed and mutually agreed on the matter.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 8, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Former Ghana head coach, James Kwesi Appiah, has shed light on his decision to transfer the captaincy from Asamoah Gyan to Andre Ayew ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Egypt. Appiah, aged 63 and currently the head coach of Sudan, revealed that Gyan’s declining performance indicated he would not be a starter at the continental tournament.
“In modern football, it’s not just about the name, and Gyan’s strength had diminished compared to previous years,” explained Appiah in an interview with Modern Ghana. He emphasized that, as captain, Gyan needed to be on the pitch to effectively lead and control the game, which influenced his decision to make the change.
Appiah acknowledged Gyan’s significant contributions to the national team and explained that despite concerns about his form, he took Gyan to the competition as a gesture of appreciation for his service to the nation. Gyan, the all-time leading goalscorer of the Ghana national team with 51 goals, retired from professional football in June of the previous year.
The former captain represented Ghana in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 FIFA World Cups, leaving a remarkable legacy as the top African goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with 6 goals.
by Silas Boahene | Jan 8, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Medeama has successfully completed the signing of Diawisie Taylor, the former Ghana Premier League (GPL) top scorer, during the current transfer window. The prolific striker, formerly with Karela United, has inked a two-year deal with the Yellow and Mauves, aiming to play a pivotal role for the club.
Taylor, at 24 years old, is determined to reignite his career after facing challenges with Egyptian Premier League side Modern Future. Eager to reshape his trajectory, the Ghanaian champion is set to benefit from Taylor’s goal-scoring prowess.
Having secured the top scorer title in the 2020-21 GPL season with 18 goals in 31 appearances for Karela United, Taylor ventured into the Egyptian and Sudanese leagues with spells at Future FC and Al Merrikh. However, his time in Sudan did not meet expectations, leading to a return to the Egyptian club in August 2022. Unfortunately, his contract was terminated a month later.
Taylor marks Medeama’s third signing in the current transfer window, following Michael Enu and Kwaku Osei. Anticipated to form a dynamic strike partnership with leading marksman Jonathan Sowah, Taylor’s addition adds an exciting dimension to Medeama’s attacking lineup.
