by Silas Boahene | Aug 19, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian forward Mohammed Fuseini expressed his excitement after scoring the decisive goal in Union Saint-Gilloise’s victory over Sporting Charleroi on Saturday.
The Right to Dream Academy graduate netted his first home goal for the Belgian side, converting a crucial penalty in the 93rd minute.
“I feel amazing. I’m very confident with the team. We just need to keep working together, and over time, we’ll score more goals and win more games,” Fuseini said in a post-match interview.
Since his arrival this summer, the 22-year-old has quickly made his mark, scoring twice and providing an assist in three matches. Fuseini also highlighted his confidence in taking penalties, saying, “Penalties have always been one of my strengths. I don’t feel pressure taking them—I just focus on scoring.”
Fuseini’s match-winning performance has further solidified his promising start at Union Saint-Gilloise.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 19, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Black Princesses coach Yussif Basigi is optimistic that the team’s early arrival in Colombia will aid in acclimatizing to the local weather conditions ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The Ghana U-20 women’s team was warmly received by Colombian police upon their arrival last week, a gesture Basigi believes signifies a positive experience ahead.
“Our reception was very welcoming, and it’s clear that the locals are eager for us to enjoy the tournament,” Basigi told the Ghana FA.
The team has commenced their training in Bogota as they prepare for the tournament, which kicks off on August 31, 2024. Despite finding the weather and altitude challenging, Basigi is confident that the early arrival will allow the players to adjust gradually.
“The weather feels a bit cold to us, though not unbearable, and the altitude is something we need to get used to. We started with lighter training sessions, and we’ll intensify them as we adapt,” he added.
The Black Princesses will open their campaign against Austria, followed by matches against Japan and New Zealand in Group E.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 19, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian defender Jerome Opoku continued his strong start to the season with a crucial assist in Istanbul Basaksehir’s 4-2 victory over Alanyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday.
Opoku, who recently contributed to Basaksehir’s 2-0 win over Iberia in the UEFA Conference League play-offs, provided a key assist for Joao Figueiredo’s equalizer in the league match at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu.
Krzysztof PiÄ…tek put Basaksehir ahead early in the match, but Alanyaspor quickly responded with goals from Sergio Cordova and a penalty by Jure Balkovec to lead at halftime. Opoku’s assist helped Basaksehir level the score, and Deniz Turuc and Sedar Guler sealed the win with late goals.
This victory underscores Opoku’s vital role in Basaksehir’s strong start to the season.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 19, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Nsoatreman FC coach Yaw Preko has expressed mixed feelings after his team’s impressive 3-0 victory over Elect Sport in their debut CAF Confederation Cup match. Although the Ghana FA Cup champions secured a commanding win at the Accra Sports Stadium, Preko believes his team could have scored more goals.
Preko praised his squad’s performance but noted missed opportunities, especially in the second half. “I’m very proud of the result. We should have added more goals, particularly after the break. We lost some balance, and the substitutions didn’t quite work out as planned,” he said in the post-match interview. “It’s our first time here, and getting three goals is a great achievement, but there’s still more to come.”
Nsoatreman’s goals came from Rahman in the 31st minute, Meider in the 33rd minute, and Rahman again in the 36th minute. Elect Sport’s situation worsened when their goalkeeper Bechir was sent off in the 54th minute. Despite having an extra player, Nsoatreman failed to capitalize fully, with Diyou hitting the post in the 70th minute.
The second leg of the preliminary round will be held on August 24 at a neutral venue in Cameroon due to Elect Sport’s home stadium not meeting CAF’s standards. If Nsoatreman advances, they will face either Police FC of Rwanda or CS Constantine of Algeria in the next stage.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 19, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
As the Black Princesses arrive in Colombia for the 2024 U-20 Women’s World Cup, head coach Yussif Basigi has committed to delivering a strong performance in gratitude for the support from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the government.
Basigi expressed his appreciation for the resources provided, which have allowed the team to adapt to the local weather and altitude. “I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Government and the Football Association for bringing us here early to acclimatize. We are very grateful and will strive to repay their support,” Basigi told the Ghana FA website.
The Black Princesses are aiming to advance beyond the group stage for the first time, despite competing in the tournament for six consecutive editions. Basigi also commended the GFA for arranging high-profile friendly matches that have been crucial for the team’s preparation.
The Black Princesses will start their campaign in Group E against Austria on September 2, followed by matches against Japan and New Zealand. With their preparations well underway, Basigi is confident the team will make Ghana proud on the world stage.
