AFCON

AFCON 2023Q : Ghana beat Central African Republic to secure AFCON 2023 qualifications to Ivory Coast

Published

3 years ago

September 7, 2023

Ghana Black Stars has secured qualification for next year’s AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast after a hard-fought home victory over the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Chris Hughton named a strong starting eleven, which saw, Djiku, Inaki, Kudus, Osman, Salis Samed, and Jordan Ayew captain the side in place of his senior brother and captain, Dede Ayew, who was dropped to the bench against the CAR.

The away side kick-started the game on the front foot, creating chance after chance, Louis Mafouta called Ati-Zigi into action in the 17th minute but the latter pulled off a fantastic save for a corner.

In the 25th minute of the game, Amos Yoga and Venuste Baboula combined effortlessly to set Louis Mafouta up who selflessly rounded the rushing, Lawrence Ati Zigi in post to calmly slot home the first goal of the game for visitors.

The goal from Mafouta awoke the sleeping giants of Africa as Osman Bukari, Jordan Ayew, and Inaki Williams began to create chances out of nothing but their threats were equaled and dealt with by CAR goalkeeper, Geoffrey Lembet.

Osman Bukari a constant threat for the opposition side basked a free kick for the host right on the edge of the penalty box which was expertly converted by poster boy, Mohammed Kudus in the 43rd minute to tie the game, 1-1 on the half time whistle.

The game sprung up to life in the second half with so much intensity by both sides who were searching for the cushioning goal but primarily none could find one past the other.

Osman Bukari and Inaki Williams were subbed off for Ernest Nuamah and Antoine Semenyo for the final twenty minutes of the game and it was least surprising the substitutes combined to give the home side the second and winning goal to bask qualifications for Ivory Coast,2023

Ghana led group E with 12 points followed by Angola with 9, and Central Africa Republic and Madagascar basked with 7 and 3 respectively.

AFCON

AFCON 2025Q : Otto Addo considers Andre Ayew important to BlackStars

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2024

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo holds the firm belief that Andre Ayew has a crucial role to play in his setup despite his omission from the squad.

Otto Addo named his 23-man squad for the doubleheader against Angola and Niger, notably missing from the squad list was clubless, Andre Ayew for the second time running.

“Andre Ayew is a good player, but at the moment, he is not here. He doesn’t have a club, but nobody knows the future,” said the coach.

“If he gets a club and performs and scores 20 goals, maybe he can return because we are building something for the future.” He ended.

The team will be at home at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to clash with Angola on September 5, 2024, and four days later with Niger in Morocco.

AFCON

“If I am convinced I will call you” – Otto Addo on Ghana Premier League players

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2024

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has explained the rationale for selecting just one player from the Ghana Premier League ahead of the AFCON qualifiers.

Announcing his squad for the games shows visibly that one player from the domestic league made the squad, goalkeeper, Fredrick Asare.

This has drawn widespread discontent amongst football people who are of the view that other players who impressed in the just-ended 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League should have been given a fair opportunity.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT :

Speaking to pressmen about the squad announcement, coach Otto Addo disclosed that he would only call the best once he was convinced.

“I think it is not easy. I said last time we would watch the Ghanaian Premier League. It’s tough and I know if I leave a player out there will be questions,” he said.

“But at the moment for me, it is not about the Ghana Premier League, French Ligue 1, or the EPL or Bundesliga, it is about the players and we need the best players to qualify for the World Cup. I don’t care, if I am convinced I will call you,” he added.

https://twitter.com/SaharaFootball/status/1829136206892019852

The team will be at home at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to clash with Angola on September 5, 2024, and four days later with Niger in Morocco.

AFCON

AFCON 2023 : Baba Rahman withdraws from BlackStars squad

Published

3 years ago

January 1, 2024

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Ghana defender Baba Rahman recused himself from the Black Stars ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

According to the informed Greek-based defender, his withdrawal from the squad is factually based on football reasons and has nothing to do with the incessant boos he suffered from the fans whiles playing for the BlackStars back in September.

He posted on his official Twitter handle that past injury struggles were consistent with the

Rahman tweeted, “Playing for my country will always be the highest point of my career, and every time I have been lucky to wear the shirt, I have given my all.” Acknowledging the challenges of injury and recovery, he highlighted the importance of making tough calls for the benefit of both the national team and his career’s longevity.

Hear me out:

I just wanted to say that decision to opt out of the AFCON was solely based on footballing reasons and nothing else.

Playing for my country will always be the highest point of my career and everytime I have been lucky to wear the shirt I have given my all.

The… pic.twitter.com/qv3itU5uCF

— baba abdul-rahman (@babarahmangh) January 1, 2024

The final list saw players such as captain, Andre Ayew Mohammed Kudus, Inaki Williams, Daniel Amartey, Richard Ofori, and Mohammed Salisu.

Deputy captain of the BlackStars deputy Thomas Partey was also left out of the final list as well as Fatawu Issahaku.

But to people’s surprise, Bernard Terkpetey, Bernard Mensah, Alfred Duncan, and Jeffrey Schlupp should have made the provisional squad list to talk off the final list.

The local league managed to get a look in from the technical handlers of the BlackStars as Richmond Lamptey’s impressive performance went unnoticed, Medeama duo Fatawu Hamidu and striker Jonathan Sowah.

The squad will begin camping in Kumasi on January 2 and play Namibia on January 8, 2024.

The Black Stars have been housed in Group B alongside Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.

AFCON

AFCON 2023: CK Akonnor rallies support for Chris Hughton

Published

3 years ago

December 13, 2023

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Former Black Stars head coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor, has rallied for support for Chris Hughton ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In the last few weeks, Hughton had come under incessant pressure from several quarters within the Ghanaian landscape for failing to grind the results for the country.

On the back of two consecutive international friendly losses against Mexico and the United States of America, the results have been dire in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

In two games, he won one against, Madagascar and lost one to Comoros.

Despite the inconsistencies in results and the failure of Hughton to impose his football culture on the team, Akonnor is optimistic that the BlackStars coach will get things should he be given the needed time, patience, and support.

“I know what he is going through. It’s a difficult time. Sometimes, you can get confused especially when the whole nation comes at you,”

“We need to be calm. There is a need for calmness to prepare well, get focused, and have a strategy for going into this tournament.

“It’s a big deal for us as a football nation but we need to calm down and allow him to prepare the team adequately so we can go to this tournament and do well.”

Black Stars is housed in a tricky group with Egypt, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.

The 2023 AFCON is scheduled to come off on January 13 to February 11, 2024.