by Silas Boahene | Aug 14, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian midfielder Ibrahim Sulemana has traveled to Warsaw, Poland, with his Atalanta teammates for the highly anticipated UEFA Super Cup clash against European giants Real Madrid. This match could see the competitive debut of French superstar Kylian Mbappe, while Sulemana is expected to play a crucial role for the Italian side.
Atalanta, who secured their spot in the Super Cup by winning the Europa League last season with a victory over Bayer Leverkusen, signed Sulemana from Cagliari during the summer transfer window. The defensive midfielder, who had an impressive pre-season featuring in friendlies against Parma and Germany’s FC Saint Pauli, could make his official debut for the club tonight at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
Atalanta’s Europa League triumph also earned them a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, the reigning UEFA Champions League winners, claimed their 14th title by defeating Borussia Dortmund last season.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 13, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, International
Alhaji Muritella Tofik, a key figure in the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), has forecasted that Ghana’s prospects of winning a world boxing title will remain bleak for the foreseeable future unless local boxers are matched against credible opponents.
Tofik pointed out that Ghana currently lacks the caliber of boxers necessary to secure a world title and predicts that this situation will persist for several years. He attributes this issue to the prevalence of easy matches for boxers and a general lack of quality competition.
“I don’t see any world champion emerging from Ghana anytime soon,” Tofik told Graphic Sports in an interview last Thursday. “Our so-called elite boxers are avoiding credible fighters and are often given easier opponents, which undermines their chances of developing into world-class competitors.”
The veteran boxing trainer and manager, who leads Ambition Boxing Promotions, criticized managers and promoters for prioritizing quick financial gains over the development of their boxers. He alleged that many are opting for less challenging fights rather than pushing their fighters to face tougher adversaries.
“To make quick money, these managers and promoters are avoiding competitive fights and instead opting for less challenging bouts,” Tofik added.
He reminisced about the era of former world champion Joshua Clottey, who traveled to neighboring countries for high-quality sparring, contributing to his success as an African Champion and eventual world titleholder.
Tofik emphasized that while there are skilled boxers in Ghana, the lack of competitive matchups among them prevents their growth and hinders their chances of achieving world-class status.
“Until we address this issue and start matching our boxers against strong opponents, it will be difficult for Ghana to produce a world champion,” he concluded.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 13, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
The Black Princesses, Ghana’s U-20 women’s national football team, are relocating their training camp to Accra today as they finalize their preparations for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
Since June 27, the team has been training in Cape Coast, focusing on refining strategies, enhancing tactical skills, and improving fitness levels in preparation for the prestigious tournament.
Today, they will play a key friendly match at the Accra Sports Stadium, which is a vital part of their final preparations before heading to Colombia.
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place in Colombia from August 31 to September 22, 2024. The Black Princesses will kick off their campaign on Monday, September 2, against Austria. They are also set to compete against Japan and New Zealand in Group E, with aspirations of advancing beyond the group stage.
The team’s move to Accra and the upcoming friendly match are expected to generate enthusiasm and support from fans as the Black Princesses prepare for their international challenge.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 13, 2024 | Africa, Athletics, Europe, Ghana, International
Welsh sprinter Jeremiah Azu, of Ghanaian descent, has secured a bronze medal in the men’s 4x100m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking a historic achievement for Welsh athletics.
Born in Rotterdam to Ghanaian parents and raised in Cardiff, Azu made a significant impact on the track by running the opening leg of the relay, which was completed by Louie Hinchliffe, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, and Zharnel Hughes. This medal win came just six days after Azu’s disqualification from the individual 100m event due to a false start.
Canada took the gold, with South Africa claiming silver, while the USA experienced a mishap during the first changeover.
Earlier in the games, the GB women’s 4x100m relay team won silver behind the USA. At 23, Azu expressed his gratitude for the bronze medal, describing it as a form of redemption after his individual disappointment.
“It feels great to achieve this at my first Olympics,” Azu said. “It’s a bit of redemption after how things turned out in the individual event. I’m proud to represent Wales and to share this with my home city of Cardiff.”
Azu, who trains in Italy, noted the mental challenge of moving past his earlier disqualification. “I had to put the past behind me and focus on the relay. I treated it like just another training session and delivered my best performance.”
He is the first Welsh athlete to win an Olympic track and field medal since Iwan Thomas and Jamie Baulch secured 4x400m relay silver in Atlanta in 1996.
Looking ahead, Azu is setting his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming for gold. “I would love to secure an Olympic gold medal to complete my career. Returning in four years will be an even better experience,” he said.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 13, 2024 | Africa, International, Nigeria, Other Sports
Nigeria’s debut Olympic cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, was compelled to borrow a bike from the German team after facing a shortage of equipment in Paris.
Initially registered only for the women’s road race, Ukpeseraye unexpectedly found herself competing in the keirin and sprint events, which require specialized bikes. The 25-year-old athlete turned to social media to share her gratitude for the German team’s assistance.
“Due to the short notice of me competing in the keirin and sprint, I had no bicycle to race with,” Ukpeseraye wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “In the spirit of sportsmanship, the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle. Thank you.”
Her post sparked criticism of Team Nigeria’s organizational shortcomings. However, Nigeria’s sports minister, John Owan Enoh, explained that the situation arose from a last-minute slot offer by the Union Cycliste Internationale due to a disqualification. This offer came after the Olympic team had already arrived in Paris.
Enoh clarified that acquiring the specialized track bike, which requires months to order and deliver, was not feasible under the circumstances. Ukpeseraye’s initial event was the women’s road race, where she, along with several others, did not finish the 154km route.
