AFCON 2019
Guinea Bissau-Ghana AFCON Prematch: Kwesi Appiah gives update on Atsu, Gyan, others
Christian Atsu ruled out of Africa Cup of Nations
Ghana suffered a massive blow on Monday when their key player Christian Atsu was ruled out of the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament because of injury.
Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu suffered a hamstring injury during Ghana’s 0-0 draw against Cameroon at the African Cup of Nations.
He underwent tests on the thigh injury on Sunday and now the results released on Monday have shown that he will not be able to play any further part in the tournament for Ghana.
According to Ghanasoccernet, Atsu will no longer play a part in the tournament because of the severity of the injury.
His injury is a big blow for Ghana who were counting on the winger to deliver the form he displayed in 2015 that saw being named as the best player of the competition.
Atsu was forced off after just 14 minutes after grabbing at the back of his right leg and was sent to the hospital for a scan to assess the severity of the injury.
Newcastle United’s medical team are currently in discussions with the Ghana staff to determine what’s the best course of action.
The 27-year-old will definitely miss Ghana’s final group stage match against Guinea Bissau, a match they will likely have to win in order to advance to the round-of-16.
Last season, Atsu bounced back from a knee injury he suffered at the end of the 2017-18 campaign to make 32 appearances under Rafa Benítez.
source: Ghanasoccernet
Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan believes coach Kwesi Appiah’s decision to strip him of the Black Stars captaincy and bench him at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations was influenced by ‘someone’.
The legendary player refused to name the person who influenced the decision but insist the Black Stars coach was not his own man during the tournament in Egypt.
The 33-year-old iconic figure was stripped of Ghana captaincy before the tournament and handed to Swansea City star Andre Ayew which sparked a furious response from the attacker.
He was subsequently restricted to the substitute bench and used sparingly during the tournament in the North African country.
The country’s leading top scorer failed to score at the tournament for the first time since 2008 due to lack of playing opportunities.
And the former Sunderland hitman believes there were third parties that influenced the decision to play down his influence.
“100% I believe Kwesi Appiah was influenced to make those decisions. There is no doubt about that,” Gyan told Asempa FM.
“They are not politicians but someone influenced him to take the decision. In the end, the coach takes responsibility but I know someone influenced him because it was not his own decision.”
Gyan was stripped of the captaincy few weeks to the start of the tournament in Egypt which sparked massive controversy in the West African nation.
He rescinded his decision to retire from the international duty after a conversation with Ghana’s President Nana Akufo Addo.
credit: Ghanasoccernet
Ghana spent $4.5 million in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
The minister of Youth and Sports Isaac Asiamah revealed to the parliament today that Ghana spent 4.5 million dollars in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Minister Isaac Asiamah stated that the overall budget for the AFCON campaign was $6.3 million.
Despite the fact that Ghana won only one game and exited in the round of 16, Hon Isaac Asiamah stated that 70% of the budget was used in Egypt.
AFCON 2019: Algeria crowned champions of Africa for the second time
Baghdad Bounedjah’s first minute deflected effort handed Algeria their second Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title after a 29-year wait with a 1-0 victory over Senegal in a highly charged final at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday night.
Algeria who were playing only their second final since 2010 held on to the slim advantage for the rest of the 90 minutes while Senegal’s wait for a maiden AFCON title still lingers on. It is another case of so near yet so far away, the Lions of Teranga having lost another final in 2002 in Mali.
Within the opening minute, Algeria was one goal up. Bounedjah picked the ball after Chekou Kouyate had missed his attempted tackle on the left, drifted in and struck a shot that came off Salif Sane, the man coming in for the suspended Koulubaly.
The ball took a punishing dip beyond the keeper into the net with one half of the stadium stunned into silence while the other half in green and white of Les Fennecs roared in a deafening crescendo.
Algeria’s tact of starting off quick and playing the ball in Senegal’s half worked perfectly until halfway through when the Teranga Lions started roaring slowly into the game.
In the 26th minute, Henry Saivet attempted to catch keeper Adi-Rais Mbohli off his guard with a freekick from range, but the hawk-eyed shot-stopper adjusted quickly to gather.
Mbaye Niang had a brilliant effort later with a superbly struck volley from range. The burly forward chested the ball down from 20 yards out and took a sweet volley on the half-turn, his stinging effort going just over.
At the stroke of halftime, Sane almost made amends in exact same fashion he had conceded in the first minute, but this time is strike from range off a corner was deflected over the bar.
The second half started in as much pace as the first had ended and Senegal thought they had been given a lifeline on the hour mark when Djamel Benlamri seemed to have handled the ball inside the box off a Sarr cross.
However, after consulting the VAR, the referee overturned his earlier decision of a penalty and gave possession back to the Algerians.
Algeria managed to hold on to the score-line and secured the Cup of Nations crown with an unbeaten run.
credit: CAFonline
WATCH: Algeria 2-1 Nigeria | Goals and Highlights
Riyad Mahrez scored a late free-kick to give Algeria a 2-1 victory over Nigeria and to put them in the finals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Algeria took the lead in the first half after Riyad Mahrez cross deflected on William Troost-Ekong before entering the back of the net.
Nigeria restored parity through Odion Ighalo’s penalty after Etebo’s shot hit the hand of an Algerian defender. Algeria had a late free-kick which was taken and scored by Riyad Mahrez to send his team to the finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLAXJfKQuCU
-
Featured2 days ago“I came to win” – Chris Ennin reflects on loss to Hearts of Oak
-
Featured2 days agoHearts of Oak’s Frank Duku strike sees off Port City
-
Featured3 days agoMatch Review : All Blacks beat Kotoko in Swedru
-
Featured3 days agoMatch Preview: Hearts of Oak vs Port City
-
Featured3 days agoAll Blacks’s Joseph Agyeman pleased with win over Kotoko