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AFCON 2023 Qualifiers : BlackStars draw Madagascar

Published

3 years ago

June 18, 2023

Ghana and Madagascar drew goalless in the Africa Cup of Nations Group E penultimate round of games at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium, Madagascar.

In a highly anticipated game that the BlackStars were expected to come up tops away from home, they fell short of that expectation in Chris Haughton’s third game as coach of the former West African giants.

Coach Hughton named notable personnel Jordan Ayew, Dede Ayew, Thomas Partey, Daniel Amartey, and Ati-Zigi in the post for the side.

WATCH LIVE: Sierra Leone vs Nigeria | AFCON Qualifiers

In a game of few chances amongst the two, the away team started the game on the front foot but Jordan Ayew who was playing as the team’s arrowhead largely fed on crumbs in the game.

The host nearly made their presence in the first quarter of the game through, Dorian Betrand but his cross into the box couldn’t find any of his players as it was calmly dealt by the Black Stars defense.

Recently relegated Southampton player, Kamaldeen Sulemana made the most of his pace and trickery but his curler moments later edged narrowly past the post by inches.

Genk forward, Joseph Painstil had chances of his own in the fits half but, Nina Razakanirina was equal to the task on the day.

The second half saw the host resume with a lot of intensity but their lack of experience in front of the goal saw them fluff their chances any time they hit the Black Stars on the break.

Chris Hughton effected second-half substitutions by taking off, Sulemana for Nordsjaelland forward, Ernest Nuamah and Serbian based, Osman Bukari coming on for Joseph Painstil but that failed to positively sway the game in his side’s favor as they ended the game goalless.

The BlackStars top the group with nine points from five games followed closely by Angola with eight points

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Match Preview: Vision FC welcome Hearts of Oak

Published

4 days ago

October 16, 2026

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Vision FC host Accra Hearts of Oak at the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema.

Both teams have had mixed fortunes in the league so far.

Vision FC, by contrast, are struggling near the bottom with six points from six games (one win, three draws, two losses). The Tema-based side have gone five matches without a win since their opening-day success and will look to their home ground and the artificial turf for an edge.

The visitors, Hearts of Oak sit second in the table with 11 points from six matches (three wins, two draws, one loss), a big confidence booster for the away team ahead of the game.

The head-to-head between the two teams sways to the visitors advantage, picking two wins, and one draw from four games against Vision FC.

Vision’s solitary win over Hearts of Oak was a dramatic 1-0 home win in April 2026 thanks to a stoppage-time strike by Benjamin Kwarteng.

A win for either teams would do boast their hopes in the ongoing Ghana Premier League.

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Troost- Ekong, Ron Williams, Nsue, Adingra win big at AFCON 2023

Published

3 years ago

February 12, 2024

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

The 34^th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations saw Cote d’Ivoire dramatically beat Nigeria with other individuals rewarded for their exploits at the end of the tournament.

Equatorial Guinea captain, Emilio Nsue scooped the top scorer award at the just-ended TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

He emerged as the victor of the award with five goals from four games in the tournament.
The highlight of this feat was his first and only hat trick against host Cotê d’Ivoire at the Alassane Outtara Sports Stadium in Abidjan.

Emilio Nsue with the top goal scorer award

Côte d’Ivoire youngster, Simon Adingra, was also named the Best Young Player of the Tournament at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

READ MORE: Former Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet interested in Black Stars job
The young sensation had his elementary football training with Ghana’s Right to Dreams Academy was a breath of fresh air in the games that he played. His dazzling skillset, and mazy runs, which was a consistent worry for any oppositions like Senegal, Mali, DR Congo, and Nigeria he played against in the tournament.

Simon Adingra

Emerse Fae picked up the Best Coach of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after historically leading his home nation to an impressive victory on home soil over Nigeria.

READ MORE : AFCON2023: Côte d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra bags Best Young Player of the Tournament award
The former France youth team coach led his country to victory after former coach, Jean-Louis Gasset was relieved from his duties as the side neared elimination.
Fae managed vital wins against, defending champions, Senegal, Mali, and DR Congo and enthrone it with a dramatic winner over Nigeria in the finals.

Emerson Fae

Nigeria captain, William Troost-Ekong’s mouthwatering exemplary leadership skills went unnoticed as he ended the night acknowledged as the Best Player of the Tournament.
His exceptional leadership skills at the back saw him carry Nigeria through the group stages to the finals scoring three goals in seven games.

Troost- Ekong

Bafana Bafana shot-stopper, Ronwen Williams’ heroics in the penalty shoot-out against, Equatorial Guinea and DR Congo him eclipse Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabili for the Ecobank Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.

Ronwen Williams (South Africa)

Côte d’Ivoire was the biggest winner of the night as they finished off Nigeria in a three-goal thriller to do the host and win after Egypt in 2026. The win sees them sees them win their third trophy of AFCON since, 1992 and 2015.

TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Winners List:

Winner: Cote d’Ivoire
Finalist: Nigeria
Third: South Africa
Fourth: Democratic Republic of Congo
TotalEnergies Best Player: William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
Puma Golden Boat: Emilio Nsue Lopez
Best Ecobank Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
Fair-Play Air Côte d’Ivoire Team: South Africa

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Black Stars technical team dissolved after early AFCON exit

Published

3 years ago

January 24, 2024

New Admin

Black Stars technical team dissolved after early AFCON exit

The Executive Council of the Ghana football Association has disbanded the technical staff of the Black Stars after an awful AFCON 2023 tournament.

Following the disappointing display of the Black Stars at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Ghana Football Association has taken a definitive step by disbanding the entire technical staff.

Head coach Chris Hughton, along with assistants George Boateng and Didi Dramani, goalkeeper coach Richard Kingston, and other staff members, will be departing.

The team’s inability to secure a vital victory against Mozambique, leading to a 2-2 draw, ultimately resulted in their elimination from the tournament.

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AFCON 2023: Chris Hughton disappointed with Cape Verde loss

Published

3 years ago

January 15, 2024

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Ghana head coach Chris Hughton has expressed disappointment after recording a defeat in the opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Black Stars shockingly lost to the Blue Sharks for the first time in a game they were hotly tipped to win.

Ghana was unfortunate to go behind as early as the 17th minute to a Jamiro Monteiro goal in the first half.

Alexander Djiku pulled the BlackStars parity after rising highest to head home a Jordan Ayew cross but the Blue Sharks will have the final laugh through, substitute, Gary Rodrigues, who tapped into an empty net following a defensive mixup by the West African base country.

Speaking at the post-match interview, Hughton was left disappointed by the turn of events in the opening game.

“I think it rocked us the goal that we conceded [that early] but I thought that we got back into the game and at that stage, it looked like we could go on and win it,” Hughton said.

“We are hugely disappointed with the result.”

BlackStars will hope for an improved performance as they take on Egypt on Thursday, January 18 in a game they have to win to keep their AFCON hopes alive.

Cape Verde tops Group B with 3 points, Egypt and Mozambique follow up with a point each with Ghana at the base with no point.