Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has imposed one-match suspensions onParis Saint-Germain (PSG) players Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, and Layvin Kurzawa for their involvement in anti-gay chants.
This disciplinary action comes in response to an incident that occurred during last month’s Ligue 1 match between PSG and Marseille at the Parc des Princes.
During the match, PSG fans engaged in anti-gay chants directed at Marseille, and there were reports suggesting PSG players also participated in these chants.
As a result, Ligue 1 has decided to suspend the mentioned players starting on October 10.
Furthermore, Ligue 1 has taken the additional step of closing the Auteuil stand at the Parc des Princes for two matches, one of which is suspended, in response to this unacceptable behaviour.
“The Club regrets that the Disciplinary Commission has opted for an excessive and collective measure, likely to undermine the work of dialogue and prevention undertaken by the Club with associations, institutions and fans,” PSG said in a statement, adding that they will not appeal.
Xavi Simons has been in outstanding form since his loan move toRB Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain, and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed elsewhere.
According to reports from Fichajes, both Barcelona and Manchester City are closely monitoring the progress of the 20-year-old player.
Simons has made an impressive impact, tallying three goals and four assists in his first six Bundesliga matches since joining the German club last month.
Although Simons began his youth career at Barcelona, he transferred to PSG at the age of 16 in 2019.
However, he had limited appearances in Ligue 1, totaling just seven matches before his move to PSV Eindhoven at the beginning of the previous season.
PSG exercised a buy-back clause to reacquire the Netherlands international during the summer and subsequently loaned him to Leipzig.
If Simons maintains his current level of performance, additional suitors may emerge at the end of the season, potentially joining Barcelona andManchester Cityin the race for his services.
Jarrod Bowen marked his return to the England squad with a stellar performance,aiding West Ham United in securing a 2-1 victory against Freiburg in the Europa League.
His impressive form has caught the attention of other clubs.
According to Talksport, both Liverpool and Newcastle have shown interest in Bowen.
The 26-year-old has already notched five goals and one assist in seven Premier League matches this season.
Bowen’s current contract with West Ham is set to expire in the summer of 2025, which puts pressure on the club to negotiate an extension before the season concludes to safeguard his transfer market value.
However, reports indicate that the talks regarding the contract extension are progressing slowly, causing concern among West Ham supporters.
Jarrod Bowen endeared himself to West Ham fans when he scored the dramatic late goal against Fiorentina, securing their victory in the Europa League final.
The Norwegian striker, Erling Haaland, made his move to the Premier League club from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022 for a fee of £51 million ($63 million).
Since his arrival, he has shattered numerous records and managed to net an impressive tally of 52 goals during the previous season across all competitions.
This outstanding performance played a pivotal role in guiding The Cityzens to a historic treble.
Amidst his phenomenal success, Pep Guardiola, his manager, plays a crucial role. Guardiola has high expectations, urging the player to give his best in every training session.
In a lighthearted manner, he even jokes that he will “smash” the player if he detects any lack of focus.
“There is so much! He demands a lot in training,” Haaland told The Telegraph.
“When I spoke with him before I signed here, he said, ‘I don’t care what you do;do whatever you want. But when you have me on the (training) pitch, you have to be focused. If not, I will smash you!’”
Haaland believes that City’s secret to overwhelming success since Guardiola took over is the team’s two-pronged approach to life while they are on and off the pitch.
“That’s really how he is and how City are as a team and as a club. It’s why they have been so successful,” Haaland stated.
“The pressure is there. Look at the pressure we have every single day as a club, as a team, and as individuals. But you must focus on the one hour we have in training every day and the rest of the day relax; don’t think of football; don’t think of anything.
“I think that’s a big part of why it’s so successful here with all the staff. After training, don’t think of football anymore. You think and you develop on the pitch. When you are on the pitch, you focus. That is what Pep demands,” he added.
Following a shocking loss to Wolves in their most recent Premier League game, City will face Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in a titanic match on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium.
There are rumours circulating about Lionel Messi making a remarkable return to Barcelona once the MLS season concludes, with the possibility of a loan transfer being discussed.
Messi left Camp Nou in the summer of 2021 due to financial constraints that prevented Barcelona from extending his contract.
He then joined Paris Saint-Germain for two years before becoming a free agent once again.
While Messi did consider rejoining Barcelona, he ultimately chose a new challenge by signing with Inter Miami in the United States.
He has played a key role in their victory in the League Cup, but an unfortunate injury has cast doubt on his participation in the 2023 MLS playoffs.
If Messi’s season indeed concludes on October 21, he will have a substantial break until the 2024 American season starts in February.
As a result, there is speculation that, like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Robbie Keane before him, Messi might return to Europe on loan during the U.S. offseason.
Jorge Mas, co-owner of Inter Miami, has pledged to provide Messi with an opportunity to bid farewell to Barcelona in a more appropriate manner.
President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has committed to involving formerGFA Vice President George Afriyie in his renewed administration.
Following his successful re-election, Okraku stressed the significance of inclusivity within the football community as a fundamental factor in its growth and prosperity.
He emphasised the importance of engaging all stakeholders, including George Afriyie.
Okraku further disclosed that he has initiated contact with George Afriyie and has plans to arrange a meeting to discuss ways of persuading him to return to a role within the GFA.
“Two days ago, I had a meeting with my brother, George Afriyie. I have just one message for him: We can only build the Ghanaian game if we stay together.
The football game is a very big one, and everyone, including George, has a role to play,” Kurt Okraku stated.
He added, “I will reach out to George and bring him back home. So, George, wherever you are, we are one.”
Kurt Okraku, the incumbent president, received a resounding 117 votes out of 119 to secure his second term in office.
This followed the resignation of Kwesi Nyantakyi, who had a lengthy tenure marked by allegations of corruption exposed in an investigative exposé by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Ghana’s music sensation, Fameye, has stirred immense excitement among his fan base by announcing the release date for the remix of his current hit single, ‘Not God.’ Even more thrilling is the fact that this remix features the celebrated artist Stonebwoy.
Music enthusiasts can circle October 10th on their calendars as the highly anticipated release date for this remix.
This exciting revelation emerged during a recent interview on Bryt Extra, where Fameye discussed the forthcoming remix. He exuded confidence as he shared his belief that the remix would surpass the original song’s success, primarily attributing this expectation to Stonebwoy’s exceptional contribution to the track.
‘The remix of the song is big; Stonebwoy blessed the song with a hot verse’, he said.
When quizzed by the host about the process of securing Stonebwoy’s collaboration, Fameye shed light on how effortlessly it all came together. He stated that Stonebwoy was already captivated by the song, making the collaboration a seamless and enjoyable experience for both of them.
But that’s not all the exciting news from Fameye. He teased fans with the promise of another incredible feature release before the year’s end.
With ‘Not God’ already making waves on the music charts and airwaves, the forthcoming remix featuring Stonebwoy is undoubtedly an exceptional experience that fans and music enthusiasts alike won’t want to miss.
Fameye’s dedication to delivering quality music and memorable collaborations continues to solidify his place in the music industry, and this remix is poised to be yet another remarkable milestone in his career.
Ghanaian gospel singer Sonnie Badu has expressed his belief that highlife musician Black Sherif’s recognition as the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Artiste of the Year was truly deserved.
He emphasised that Black Sherif’s remarkable achievements in the music industry throughout the year set him apart from his fellow nominees, which included gospel singer Piesie Esther.
While acknowledging Piesie Esther’s outstanding contributions to her music career, Sonnie Badu maintained that Black Sherif’s time had come for the award.
This decision was influenced by the widespread popularity and significant impact of Black Sherif’s songs in the country.
“I think it was an interesting rift. Piesie did excellent but it was good. Black Sherif won it; no one should twist it. But it was good for the industry, like I can sit down and say, ‘You’ve done well but let’s allow this person to go.’ Why? Black sheriff just received an award in the US, and that’s what Ghana wants,” he said.
Sonnie Badu further explained that it does not matter whether the person winning an award is a gospel or secular musician; what matters most is if the person is qualified enough to receive such an award.
He called for unity among players in the entertainment industry and urged them to support each other in the interests of the nation.
“If I’m part of the entertainment fraternity, everybody projects that guy. That’s what Nigerians do and that is so important now.
“So he [Black Sherif] has everything it takes to take Ghana to that place at this moment. And let’s not think of the Stonebwoy’s and the Shatta Wale’s and all of that; they didn’t do anything. As a building block is not as important as the block in the middle. We all built it into a blacksmith.
“We have to be deliberate. If I was an entertainment minister, I’d look out for this guy and say, ‘What do we need to do to project him in this season and maybe another season?”Sonnie Badu said in an interview with Hitz FM.
Manchester City is reportedly in discussions to negotiate a new contract with Erling Haaland, a development that may disappoint Real Madrid’s future transfer plans.
The Spanish giants have long been linked with the highly prolific Norwegian striker but failed to secure an agreement with Borussia Dortmund in previous transfer windows.
Consequently, Haaland made a move to England in the summer of 2022 as part of a £51 million ($62 million) deal.
During his debut season at the Etihad Stadium, the 23-year-old emerged as a revelation, scoring an impressive 52 goals across all competitions and playing a pivotal role in City’s achievement of a Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League Treble.
Haaland still has nearly four years remaining on his existing contract with Manchester City.
According to reports from The Daily Mail, Manchester City is keen to extend Haaland’s contract, adding at least another year to the current agreement.
Additionally, discussions are expected to address the inclusion of release clauses in the new contract.
Haaland’s initial contract featured two release clauses, one of which is related to the future of Pep Guardiola as the team’s manager.
City aims to reach an agreement swiftly, leaving Real Madrid to monitor the situation from a distance.
Real Madrid is interested in securing Haaland’s services for Santiago Bernabeu, envisioning him as part of a star-studded attacking lineup that could potentially include Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe, the French World Cup winner, is anticipated to join Real Madrid in 2024 when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires.
Aspirant for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP)Kennedy Agyapong, flagbearer position, recently shared his feelings of resentment towards certain Members of Parliament.
He specifically mentioned those whom he asserts to have assisted in the past.
During an interview with Bola Ray on Starr FM’s Starr Chat program, which took place on October 5, 2023, Agyapong claimed that these particular MPs have now distanced themselves from him as he competes for the NPP’s flagbearer role.
“I am very bitter that if I had not contested, I wouldn’t have known my enemies, these MPs, the help that I have given them,” he lamented.
He singled out one MP, Alfred Obeng-Boateng, representing the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai constituency in the Western North Region, whom he claims to have personally assisted and campaigned for in the past.
Agyapong expressed his disappointment, saying that despite his support, Obeng-Boateng is now campaigning against him.
“Last week, one of them that I helped, I will never forgive him but after November 4th, he will see what will happen. You see, if you are not even going to vote for me, you have a choice and I don’t have a problem.
“But the people in his constituency know that I went there to campaign for him, and this man picks up a phone and calls delegates, telling them not to vote for Kennedy Agyapong but to vote for number two on the ballot. And then one of them asked him why, and he said Kennedy Agyapong doesn’t know how to talk,” he added.
He continued, “I campaigned for him in Bibiani; I am not afraid of him, Alfred Obeng. I left his place at 1:00 a.m. for this man to tell me that I don’t know how to talk. I can never forgive that guy.”
He also disclosed that when Obeng-Boateng faced challenges in his career, he provided support, stating, “When they sacked him from BOST, he was always in my house till about 1:00 am, consoling him.
“If it were in America, they would say he has depression. And this man, if you won’t vote for me, that’s not a problem, but for you to go and tell your delegates that Kennedy Agyapong doesn’t know how to talk, I leave him to God.”
Kennedy Agyapong is one of the four contenders competing for the NPP flagbearer position, alongside Dr. Bawumia, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The NPP has scheduled the leadership succession election for November 4, 2023, as they seek to identify a successor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
In a recent interview with Bola Ray on Starr FM’s Starr Chat, Kennedy Agyapong, an aspiring flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), candidly revealed his feelings of bitterness towards certain Members of Parliament.
He specifically mentioned those he claims to have supported in the past but who, he alleges, have now distanced themselves from him as he competes for the NPP’s flagbearer position.
The 1992 Constitution in Akuapem Twi, the first of its kind in the history of Ghana, was done by Kwasi Opare, a distinguished lawyer. It took him eight years to translate the national legal document from English to Akuapem Twi.
The translation captures all the preamble, the entire 26 chapters and two schedules. It has also adopted transliteration and the use of neologism, using Akan spellings.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Kofi Agyekum, Acting Dean, School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana (UG), noted that although Ghanaians were proud to have attained independence in 1957, the country was still under linguistic bondage because of linguistic imperialism.
The former head of Linguistics, UG, described linguistic imperialism as “phenomenon in which the minds and lives of the speakers of a language are dominated by another language to the point where they believe that they can and should use only that foreign language.”
He noted that linguistic imperialism had compelled the country to have all its official documents in the colonial master’s language.
“Sadly, our constitution, the pillar of our undertaking as a state, is also in English. Where is our identity and cultural heritage then?” He quizzed.
He therefore urged citizens to safeguard, protect and document Ghana’s languages for future generations.
“We should not allow linguistic imperialism to thrive. It will trample on our linguistic human rights. Let us embark on active language decolonization through translation like this one,” he stressed
Prof. Agyekum lauded Kwasi Opare, “who dreamt so big towards language decolonization to translate the 1992 constitution into Akuapem Twi.”
According to him, countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, South Africa, and Tanzania had taken the lead by translating their national constitution into some indigenous languages.
He said the translation of the Constitution in Akuapem Twi would not pose any problems for Akan speakers and readers, saying the national legal document was user-friendly and would be useful in various homes.
Prof. Agyekum noted that “our indigenous Ghanaian language can serve us all in diverse ways of life if we are anxious to develop it to the maximum.
Akan was being used in education, media, arts and culture, religion, commerce and trade, and ICT, he said.
Prof. Agyekum therefore called on chiefs and traditional authorities to be very proud of their cultural identity and the work done by Mr Kwasi Opare. “Elsewhere, this huge translation project should have been a national project and the same was sponsored by the state.”
He appealed to traditional authorities to take a keen interest in Ghana’s indigenous languages in forms of communication.
“It would be lovely to listen to speeches delivered by our kings, chiefs and queen mothers in our indigenous languages. This will implant the love of our mother tongue into current and future generations.
If we do not start to cherish and use our mother tongue now, and all of us are interested in foreign languages at the expense of our own, it will be chaotic. We will be on the path of language shift, language attrition, language loss and finally language death.”
Prof. Agyekum said: “to avoid such a catastrophic situation, let us maintain our languages and cultures through the translation and publication of essential documents like the1992 Constitution, a Ghanaian Bible of a sort.”
During the launch event, Nana Ansah Kwaw IV, Chief of Adumasa, praised Kwasi Opare for his remarkable achievement and urged the National Commission on Civic Education to coordinate a widespread unveiling of the Akuapem Twi Constitution.
Mr. Kwasi Opare, the translator, emphasised that this national legal document would facilitate a better understanding and appreciation of the law among all citizens.
Mr. Opare also expressed his appreciation for the significant role played by the late Appenteng Sackey, a former lecturer at the University of Ghana, whose efforts contributed to the introduction of the Constitution in Akuapem Twi.
The initial copies of the Constitution in Akuapem Twi were made available for purchase at a cost of GHC 2,000.
Kennedy Agyapong, who is aspiring to become the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has made a public apology to former President John Dramani Mahama, citing his past actions as ‘unfair.’
During an appearance on the Starr Chat program on Accra’s Starr FM, which took place on October 5, 2023, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central openly acknowledged that despite his relentless criticisms and attacks on Mahama during his presidential tenure, Mahama had consistently maintained a gentlemanly demeanor in their relationship.
“The way he has handled me and how I have spoken harshly to John Mahama, I think, have not been fair to Mahama. He is such a wonderful man,” Ken told show host Bola Ray.
He went on to narrate how Mahama’s wife, former First Lady Lordina Mahama, has serially spoken highly of him (Ken) and that he is the only man Lordina would have loved to marry if Mahama was not in the picture.
“I apologise; I am a human being. I think if I recount my relationship with him and all that, I want to say I am sorry,” he stated.
The Member of Parliament representing Assin Central has a history of launching direct and derogatory verbal attacks aimed at both Mahama, the former president, and his business-oriented brother, Ibrahim. These attacks often revolved around allegations of significant corruption on their part.
During Mahama’s tenure as president, the Assin Central MP consistently assumed the role of a vocal and persistent critic.
His involvement in various capacities within theNPP’s campaign efforts in 2016 contributed significantly to Mahama’s electoral defeat. This outcome marked a historical milestone, as Mahama became the first sitting president to fail in his bid for re-election.
A subsidiary of China’s Shandong Gold, Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited, has announced plans to construct an airport in the northern part of Ghana.
The airport is expected to serve the needs of the locals and also aid in the operations of the mining company.
It is reported that Cardinal has proposed the construction of an airstrip solely for its use in the Talensi District, where it intends to commence gold mining operations in the first quarter of 2024.
However, the Ministry of Transport successfully persuaded the company to expand the project into a full-fledged airport, given that the people of the Upper East are without an airport.
Cardinal Namdini’s project manager, Steve Ofori-Asamoah, shared the details during a tour of the mining site during an engagement with the Daily Graphic, accompanied by some dignitaries.
This development holds the promise of not only bolstering the mining project but also enhancing connectivity and economic opportunities in the region.
Ofori-Asamoah explained that the initial airstrip’s purpose was to streamline the transportation of employees from companies based outside the region.
This would facilitate their engagement in activities in key cities like Kumasi, Accra, and Takoradi. Additionally, it would serve as a means to transport bullion.
However, all these ambitions will be in vain without the government’s approval; hence, the company is looking forward to negotiations with the government in that regard.
Securing a mining lease for a 15-year period in the Talensi District, the mining company aspires to extract a substantial 150 million metric tonnes of ore and this is expected to yield a hooping 5 million ounces of gold over the course of this timeframe.
André Onana is reluctant to take time away from Manchester United to play for Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January after a difficult start to his career at Old Trafford, a source has told ESPN.
Onana quit international football following the World Cup in Qatar after a disagreement with head coach Rigobert Song.
He agreed to return for the final AFCON qualifier against Burundi in September amid pressure from the government and the Cameroon FA.
A 3-0 victory for Cameroon booked their place at the tournament, which starts in the Ivory Coast on Jan. 13.
Onana, however, is reluctant to take part because it could mean the 27-year-old missing a month of the Premier League season and, according to a source close to the player, his priority is to focus on his new club.
Onana is particularly keen to stay at Old Trafford following a tough start to his first season, which has included a series of costly mistakes, and wants to show his commitment to United.
Samuel Anim Addo has gracefully expressed his appreciation despite not securing a seat on the Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council during the2023 GFA Elections.
In his quest for re-election to the Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council as one of the three representatives for the Division One League (DOL), Addo faced defeat.
He garnered 13 votes out of the 48 total votes cast by the Division One League clubs.
Anim Addo, who serves as the manager of Asamoah Gyan, was among five contestants vying for the three available slots, and unfortunately, he finished last in the race.
In a statement on social media, Anim Addo said, “The Lord Has Spoken Thank you, Jesus, am still grateful. Yes, this was another victory for me in your eyes. Thank you, Jesus Christ.”
GFA vice president Mark Addo was successfully re-elected alongside Gideon Fosu and Eugen Nobel Nii Amon Noel.
The newly-elected three representatives of the Division One League will join five other Executive Committee members from the Ghana Premier League and Women’s Premier League to form the new GFA ExCo.
Incumbentpresident Kurt Okraku also recorded a resounding victory as he was re-elected as the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
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Renowned ItalianTikTok influencer Lorenzo Delle Femmine, celebrated for his heartwarming videos chronicling family life that captivated millions of fans, tragically passed away on Monday, October 2, following a cardiac arrest.
Known as “Mister Pella Pazzo” by his 1.8 million TikTok followers, the 40-year-old influencer was reportedly enjoying playtime with his children at their residence in Casalnuovo di Napoli, near Naples, when he suddenly fell ill.
According to reports by Jam Press, Femmine collapsed and remained motionless on the floor, prompting immediate action from his family members, who rushed him to Villa dei Fiori Hospital in Acerra.
His wife, Assunta, confirmed his death in an Instagram post, writing, “I feel so bad. I can’t believe it.”
Despite the efforts of doctors, he passed away shortly thereafter.
Right before Femmine’s death, Assunta, who went by the nickname Susy across social media, posted a video to TikTok updating followers on her husband’s condition.
The Chargé d’Affaires of the Colombian Embassy in Ghana, Claudia Milena Vaca, has sent a formal communication to the organiser of last month’s inaugural African Para Games in Accra.
The letter serves as a protest regarding outstanding bills related to a website development project handled by a Bogotá-based company.
Claudia Milena Vaca, who assumed her role as a representative of Colombia in Ghana last year, has taken up the issue concerning Altheroh, one of several companies that have yet to receive payment for services rendered in connection with the Games.
The African Para Games were coordinated by the African Paralympic Committee (APC), led by President Samson Deen, a native of Ghana.
Due to non-payment for their services, Altheroh decided to take the event website offline on the eve of the Games’ opening.
“The Colombian company Altheroh has informed the diplomatic mission in Ghana and me that you and the company you represent have failed to meet the minimum that of 30,000 dollars for the more than four months of work and services,” Vaca wrote to Deen.
“We all hope the African Paralympic Games will always be remembered in Accra, but also in Colombia, as a positive event that benefits all and make us proud.
Altheroh contacted Vaca after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) refused to intervene in the dispute.
They claimed, that “these are matters that need to be resolved between the respective unpaid companies and the organising Committee.”
However, Deen’s response did not exhibit any inclination towards resolving the outstanding debt. Instead, he has asserted that Altheroh was responsible for the issues at hand.
TheOffice of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has summoned a former MP for Obuasi East, Edward Michael Enninover, who alleged that New Patriotic Party members purchased government houses priced at a million dollars, between US$300,000 and US$400,000.
This revelation was made by Edward Michael Ennin during a media engagement in Kumasi on October 5, 2023.
It will be recalled that the former MP alleged during an interview with Kumasi-based Akoma FM that government houses, which are supposed to be sold for a million dollars, are being bought by some party members in the range of $300k to $400k, adding that he had documents to validate his claims.
He said, “Recently, government houses cost US$1 million; haven’t people purchased the same for 300,000 and 400,000 USD? I know people who bought some and I have receipts to that effect and can pinpoint the ministry involved,” he disclosed.
He made these remarks after NPP presidential aspirant Kennedy Agyapong,in a viral video, alleged that the ruling party is looting money “as if there’s no tomorrow”.
Speaking to the media regarding his allegations, he disclosed that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has issued a summons for him.
This summons is aimed at delving deeper into the evidence he asserts he possesses.
Displaying a strong sense of confidence and an unwavering commitment to collaborating with the investigation,he highlighted the importance of the OSP conducting private inquiries before his official summons.
He further stated that he would make himself available for the investigation in the upcoming weeks.
He asserted, “Just as I am speaking to you, theOffice of Special Prosecutor has invited me a few hours after disclosing the media. Let me also say that I would not want to make further comments on the scandal until I honour the invitation.
“I am not scared to help the office since I am going to tell them what I know for now but I think they could have done themselves well by instituting an investigation into the issue before inviting me and getting their information.”
He, however, assured the media that he would make the day of the invitation to appear before the Office of the Special Prosecutor open to the media, as well as the outcome of the discussions.
The Ghana Football Associationheld a successful election in Tamale to elect leaders to lead the country’s football for the next four years. add date
In the Extraordinary Congress held in the Nothern Region, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku was re-elected as the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The incumbent president, who ran unopposed in the election, recorded a resounding 117 votes out of 119 to be re-elected into his second term in office.
A new seven-member Executive Council was also voted into power. Notable names who were elected included former Black Stars manager, James Kwasi Appiah, former GFA spokesperson Randy Abbey, and former president of Berekum Chelsea, Nana Oduro Sarfo.
Division One League (DOL) representatives on the Exco were also voted on, where the shock occurred.
The owner of Division One Young Apostles and a previous member of the Exco, Samuel Addo Anim could not retain his spot.
The newly-elected GFA administration will serve a four-year term, expiring in 2027.
FIFA observers, including Gelson Fernandes, Director of Member Associations for Africa;Silmara Sousa, FIFA Development Program Coordinator; and Mr. Ahmed Harraz, FIFA Member Associations Africa representative, are expected to attend the event in Tamale.
Full list of winners is as follows
GFA President
Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, GFA President, polled 117 of 120 votes. 1 abstained and two voted NO.
Executive Council Representatives- Ghana Premier League
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has had limited game time, playing only 37 minutes for the Florida-based team since returning from 2026 World Cup qualifying duties with the Argentine national team due to an unfortunate injury.
He has been sidelined for four consecutive matches, including a painful 4-1 loss to the Chicago Fire in their most recent outing.
This defeat may have dealt a severe blow to Inter Miami’s playoff aspirations, and even Messi’s exceptional talents are unlikely to salvage their postseason hopes.
Busquets has shared his thoughts on seeing a talismanic presence ruled out of Tata Martino’s plans:
“The first person who wants Leo to be on the field is Leo. Second is us, his teammates, because we know how important he is for us. It’s a shame, but in the world of football, you can’t control injuries.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhBnM0BEIRk
Fans in Chicago were disappointed not to catch a glimpse of Messi in action on Wednesday, but Fire boss Frank Klopas believes his team put on a performance to send supporters home happy.
He told reporters after a convincing victory at Soldier Field: “We talked about moments like this, opportunities; you have to grab them, and we did. It was sold out months ago. A lot of fans came for the first time to see Lionel Messi. Who doesn’t want to see him? Wherever Messi goes, it’s amazing what he’s done for the league. But the fans saw a great performance from our team. I guarantee a lot of people will go back home and say, ‘Wow, that was entertaining.’ It’s about putting a show on the field. And we did that. Hopefully, they’ll come back next year, and not just for the Inter Miami game.”
The Chicago Fire are almost certain to qualify for the MLS playoffs in 2023, but Inter Miami must try to repair a five-point deficit in just three games without a guarantee that Messi will return in time to help.
Erik ten Hag’s choice to substituteDavid De Gea with Andre Onana has come under scrutiny due to the goalkeeper’s error-prone performances.
Onana, who arrived for a hefty £48 million ($62 million) from Inter, has struggled to make a positive impression and has been responsible for several costly mistakes. His recent blunders were evident as the Red Devils suffered a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Ten Hag has expressed his intention to have a conversation with Onana following his latest disappointing display.
Meanwhile, former Manchester United player Lee Sharpe believes that Ten Hag’s decision to switch goalkeepers may lead to questions being raised.
“I know De Gea took a lot of criticism for some of the mistakes that he was making but he was also, up until last year, the players’ player of the year and the supporters’ player of the year for three years in a row, so he was an incredible goalkeeper. I think the way they brought Onana in and ushered him out of the door was a little bit amateur as well,” he told AGamble.com.
“I think there’s probably a few people that are questioning the decision, and it’s only natural when the replacement comes in and makes more mistakes than the guy that has gone out; you’ve got to question if the recruitment team has made the right decision, and at the moment it’s very dubious if they have.”
Onana’s performances have played a part in Manchester United’s troubling start to the Premier League season, marking their poorest beginning in 34 years.
Furthermore, the Red Devils find themselves in a precarious situation in the Champions League, having suffered defeat in their initial two group stage matches, conceding a total of seven goals in just two games. This places them at the bottom of Group A in the competition.
Looking ahead, Manchester United is set to return to Premier League action on Saturday when they face Brentford at their home ground, Old Trafford.
Kurt Okraku has been re-elected as the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for his second term. The election, which took place on October 5, 2023, at the Global Dream Hotel in Tamale, Northern Region, was a one-sided affair. Okraku secured a resounding victory with an overwhelming 117 YES votes, while only two votes were against him, and one person abstained from voting.
Notably, Okraku faced no opposition in the GFA elections because his competitor, George Afriyie, had been disqualified by both the Elections Committee and the Appeals Committee following a thorough review process.
Kurt Okraku, who previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Dreams FC, first assumed the presidency on October 25, 2019.
Despite the looming threat of an injunction notice, the GFA executives decided to proceed with the electoral process.
The GFA had originally set its Congress date for September 27, 2023, in Tamale. However, King Faisal filed for an injunction, resulting in the postponement of the assembly to early October.
King Faisal’s argument centred on the notion that a valid Congress cannot proceed to elect the President until new Executive Council (Exco) representatives are properly elected.
The club contended that initiating nominations for the GFA President’s election prior to conducting Exco elections is both inappropriate and unlawful.
Furthermore, King Faisal, based in Kumasi, sought a declaration that any resolutions made by the current Exco regarding the GFA President’s election before the selection of Exco representatives would constitute a breach of trust, confidence, and loyalty.
There are indications from sources within Citi Sports that George Afriyie was discreetly advised to halt his legal actions and instead seek a restraining order against the elections.
However, it remains uncertain whether the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially received the injunction or if George Afriyie’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has yielded any results.
According to reports circulating in various media outlets, Amaju Pinnick, the former president of the Nigeria Football Federation, engaged in discussions withGeorge Afriyie and other parties involved, aiming to resolve the dispute.
Pinnick reportedly offered the aggrieved party a position on the Black Stars World Cup qualifiers committee as a potential solution. Nevertheless, this proposal was promptly declined.
Football Australia’s CEO, James Johnson, confirmed on Thursday that they are actively considering a bid to host the 2034 World Cup. This decision comes despite the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) expressing support for Saudi Arabia’s bid.
Following FIFA’s announcement of Morocco, Spain, and Portugal as the hosts for the 2030 World Cup, with the opening matches to be held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to commemorate the tournament’s centenary, FIFA extended an invitation to countries in the Asia and Oceania regions to submit bids for the 2034 edition.
Shortly after this invitation, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation swiftly declared their bid, a move welcomed by AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
“The entire Asian football family will stand united in support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s momentous initiative”.
Australia, which switched to the Asian Confederation from Oceania in 2006, has already announced its intention to bid for the 2034 tournament and Johnson said nothing had changed.
“As stated previously, Football Australia is exploring the possibility of bidding for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and/or the FIFA World Cup 2034,” he said in a statement.
“We are encouraged that after thehugely successful FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023, the football family of Asia and Oceania will once again have the opportunity to showcase their ability to welcome the world and host the best FIFA tournaments.”
Prospective hosts must submit their expressions of interest by the deadline of October 31st. It’s worth noting that Australia has never had the opportunity to host a men’s World Cup in the past, and their bid for the 2022 event saw them eliminated in the initial round of voting.
The 2026 World Cup, set to accommodate 48 teams, has already been designated to the United States, Canada, and Mexico as joint hosts.
Dan Burn described his goal in Newcastle’s 4-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain as a dream come true.
This momentous achievement followed a challenging period in his mid-20s when he found himself without a club after being turned down by Fulham.
Newcastle currently occupies the leading position in Group F in their first Champions League campaign since the 2002–03 season.
They achieved this feat by securing an impressive victory over the French champions PSG at St. James’s Park, with goals contributed by Miguel Almirón, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff, and Fabian Schär.
And Burn, who grew up in nearby Blyth as a Newcastle supporter, said the goal and performance left him waiting for somebody to “wake me up” from his dream.
“It has not sunk in; I am a bit speechless,” Burn told TNT Sports. “It is like dream and I am waiting for someone to wake me up. I am waiting for the bubble to pop.
“Amazing [to score]. When the flag went up, I was gutted. I was so angry for Bruno [Guimaraes] shooting, but it comes back and as soon as it got hung in the air, I just went for it.
“I can’t believe it, obviously. The home games are the ones we can go and attack and Dortmund is next. I cannot believe I am saying Dortmund is next!”
Having spent much of his career in English football’s lower leagues at clubs including Yeovil, Wigan and Birmingham, Burn said he has had a tough route to the Champions League.
“I just tried to survive at that apprentice level and you try to work your way up,” he said. “I was released by Fulham at 25 years old; to come back and play Champions League football, I am very proud.”
Two years afterNewcastle were bought by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Wednesday’s win was the biggest of their new era.
“I remember when the takeover happened,” Burn said. “I was out with my dad and I thought, ‘I think that’s me done now; I’ll never get to Newcastle.’ Three months later, I was signed on deadline day and it’s been straight up from there.”
The scorers on one of the great nights at St. James’s Park were players who are far from the “galácticos.” Many thought Newcastle might be signing under the richest owners in soccer.
Like Burn, Longstaff was a lifelong supporter of the team who was raised in the neighbourhood.
“For me and Burny to score is unreal,” Longstaff said. “There’s a few here who probably thought we were out the door. I’m so proud to be from Newcastle; I’m over the moon.”
Barcelona is planning to make an approach for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, according to Sport.
The 19-year-old is on a season-long loan at Nottingham Forest but, having yet to make a league appearance for the club, it is reported that he now wants to leave the Premier League.
The La Liga champions have previously identified the Brazil international as a potential successor to legend Sergio Busquets, with the belief that he would thrive in the system of manager Xavi Hernandez.
Barca’s sporting director Deco is said to have a strong relationship with Santos’ agent, Giuliano Bertolucci, and that could play in the favour of the Blaugrana, who inquired about a loan move for him in July before eventually signing Oriol Romeu instead.
However, despite Barcelona not advancing on the deal during the last transfer window, they could now resurface as a potential fit for the former Vasco da Gama star, with no sign of regular minutes on the horizon underForest head coach Steve Cooper.
The Inter Ultras group, known as the Curva Nord, is gearing up to distribute 50,000 whistles, which they intend to use against striker Romelu Lukaku during the upcoming clash with Roma.
Lukaku hadinfuriated Inter fans during the summer when it was revealed that he had shown interest in joining Juventus, despite previously expressing his desire to stay with the Nerazzurri permanently.
As fate would have it, the striker eventually signed with Roma and is now scheduled to make a return to San Siro to face his former club at the end of the month.
Inter supporters have made it abundantly clear that Lukaku should brace himself for a less-than-warm reception upon his comeback to Milan.
“October 29 is a date we should circle in the calendar so we can be ready to let him hear all our disgust that we feel towards someone who turned his back on us in the most shameful way,” read a statement from the Curva Nord group.
“A character who proved himself to be a small man because, before being a champion, you must be a man and know how to keep your word. “We defended you with swords drawn and you repaid us by turning your back. Before the game against Roma, the Curva Nord will hand out 50,000 whistles to be used at every touch of the ball from those who betrayed our jersey. Let us all show how someone who proved himself unworthy to wear this shirt ought to be treated.”
Lukaku was brought on board by the Giallorossi during the final days of the summer transfer window, and he has made a promising beginning to his time in the Italian capital.
The Belgian forward made a significant impact by netting the opening goal in Roma’s 1-0 victory over Frosinone last Sunday.
This marked his fourth goal in just six appearances for the club.
Lukaku is now poised to make his highly anticipated return to San Siro on October 29 when Inter hosts Roma in a Serie A fixture.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority and a member of the Communication Team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Akosua Manu, has expressed her objection to the term ‘hooligans’ used to describe the participants in the #OccupyBoG protest.
This term, employed by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, does not align with her perspective, and she contends that it is an inappropriate characterization of the protesters.
In response to an undelivered petition submitted by the organizers of the demonstration, which aimed to compel the head of the central bank and his two deputies to step down, Dr. Addison made it clear that he had no intentions of acceding to their demands.
In his response, the Governor of the BoG called the protesters ‘hooligans.’
“The Minority in parliament have many channels to channel their grievances in civilised societies, not through demonstrations in the streets as hooligans,” he is reported to have said in an interview with the international business website, Central Banking.
“Hold institutions accountable but make sure that the things you want to hold them accountable to are things within their remit… I, for instance, am surprised that the governor, as CEO, also doubles as chair of the board. That’s not good corporate governance; it’s not
“… but at the end of the day, I disagree with the word ‘hooligans’ ascribed to the protesters.
“He didn’t do well; he didn’t do well on that score and I’ll take no precedence on that and nobody can convince me that those were the appropriate words to use,” she said.
The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has unveiled ambitious plans to channel approximately $30 million into legally established small-scale mining enterprises through a novel initiative called theSmall-Scale Mining Incubation Programme.
This program aims to aid small-scale miners in their growth journey, transforming them into responsible and sustainable mid-tier mining operators.
The primary objective of this initiative is to promote the formalisation of the small-scale mining sector, which contributes significantly, accounting for roughly 30 to 40 percent of the nation’s total annual gold production.
The investment’s broader goals encompass curbing illegal mining activities (known as “galamsey”), fostering job creation, and ensuring adherence to stringent environmental practises and safety standards.
Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, the Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, cited a report by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), estimating that the small-scale mining sector possesses the potential to generate an impressive $2.1 billion annually.
Under the incubation program, participating companies will receive essential support.
This includes capital infusion in the form of machinery, guidance on corporate governance in alignment with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, and facilitation of market access through MIIF’s gold trade desk, among other valuable assistance measures.
“The idea is to develop them into junior mines, similar to what pertains in Canada and other countries. Some of them have huge potential,” he said.
During a stakeholder forum organised by MIIF in Accra, Mr. Koranteng outlined the meticulous approach that will be adopted for the implementation of this initiative.
This method will involve a thorough verification of the resources held by selected ventures, a process that will engage institutions such as the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).
The small-scale mining companies that meet the criteria will be listed on the Ghana Alternative Market (GAX).
As part of its investment strategy, MIIF plans to exit its investments through several avenues, including offering share buy-back options to management, initiating IPOs on the GAX, and exploring trade sales to other investors.
This strategic move by MIIF underscores the increasing emphasis on responsible resource extraction and sustainable economic development.
By directing investments towards licenced small-scale mining operations, MIIF is poised to strike a delicate balance between financial returns and environmental stewardship.
The stakeholder forum, designed to become a regular component of MIIF’s activities, operated under the theme ‘MIIF as a lever for development in Ghana, investing in a responsible, transparent, and accountable manner to secure the future wealth of Ghana.’
The event brought together numerous industry experts, including civil society organisations (CSOs) specialising in resource governance and transparency, to deliberate on MIIF’s progress thus far and chart a path forward.
“We are looking at building Africa’s biggest mineral sovereign wealth fund, and we need the input of all stakeholders to see how we can develop the object to refine the move towards realisation of this goal—and to make sure we are able to build something that will create intergenerational value for Ghanaians,” Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng explained.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources responsible for mines, George Mireku Duker, said: “Without the value chain development intended to create local wealth from the resources, acquire know-how and boost employment, we will forever live on scraps and not enjoy our God-given natural resources”.
In light of these considerations, Mr. Koranteng acknowledged MIIF’s role as a catalyst for development. He emphasised that mining, both small and large-scale, in Ghana significantly impacts the lives of over 4 million people, offering both direct and indirect sources of livelihood and benefits.
He highlighted the government’s unwavering commitment to creating wealth for its citizens. To this end, efforts are underway to align mining sector laws in a way that fosters this objective.
Speaking at the stakeholder forum organized by MIIF in Accra, Mr. Koranteng reiterated that the initiative would adhere to a rigorous process. This process includes a meticulous verification of the resources held by selected ventures, with the involvement of esteemed institutions like the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).
The plan involves listing selected small-scale mining companies on the Ghana Alternative Market (GAX).
Additionally, MIIF intends to strategically exit its investments through various means, such as offering share buy-back options to management, initiating IPOs on the GAX, and exploring trade sales to other investors.
MIIF’s recent initiative underscores the escalating concerns and unwavering commitment to ensuring responsible resource extraction and sustainable economic development.
By directing investments towards licenced small-scale mining operations, MIIF is poised to strike a harmonious balance between financial returns and environmental stewardship.
The stakeholder forum, anticipated to become a regular fixture in MIIF’s agenda, revolved around the theme ‘MIIF as a lever for development in Ghana, investing in a responsible, transparent, and accountable manner to secure the future wealth of Ghana.’
The event convened several industry experts, including civil society organisations (CSOs) specialising in resource governance and transparency, to engage in discussions about MIIF’s achievements thus far and chart the way forward.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is gearing up for its Extraordinary Congress, scheduled for October 5th at the Redaach Memorial Hotel in Tamale.
The Congress is slated to kick off at 9 a.m. and will primarily focus on endorsing Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku for a second term as the President of the GFA.
Kurt Okraku, the incumbent GFA President, is running uncontested after the Appeals Committee upheld the disqualification of his sole challenger, George Afriyie. Okraku initially secured the GFA Presidency in October 2019 when he triumphed over George Afriyie.
He took the reins from Kwesi Nyantakyi, whose prolonged tenure was marred by allegations of corruption, brought to light through an investigative exposé by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The upcoming Congress is not limited to the presidential endorsement; it will also involve the election of executives who will oversee GFA affairs for the next four years.
In addition to the presidential position, delegates will select five representatives for the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and three representatives for the Division One League (DOL) for the Executive Council.
The DOL candidates vying for the positions include Mark Addo, Samuel Addo Anim, Eugene Nobel Nii Amon Noel, Gideon Fosu, and Alexander Ababi.
For the GPL roles, ten candidates are in the running, including Kingsley Osei Bonsu, Nana Sarfo Oduro, Frederick Acheampong, Anthony Kwesi Aubynn, Ransford Anertey Abbey, Onyina Asenso, Edmund Kwabena Ackah, James Kwasi Appiah, Elloeny Amande, and Raphael Yawiah Gyambrah. Dr. Gifty Afia Oware-Mensah is running uncontested for the Women’s Football representative on the Executive Council.
The electoral process will span across ten regions, where regional delegates will elect their respective chairmen. Two chairmen will subsequently join the Executive Council.
Some regions have uncontested chairmanship races, including Greater Accra,Western, Eastern, and Northern regions. Samuel Aboabire, Simon Ehomah, Linford Boadu Asamoah, and Mahamadu Abu-Hassan are among the uncontested candidates.
In the Central region, Robert Otieku Duncan and Abdul Hayye Yartey are competing for the Central FA Chairman role, while the Brong Ahafo FA Chairman position is being contested by Dickson Kyere-Duah, Dr. Charles Osei Antoh, and Meshack Asante Ameyaw.
Salifu Shaibu Zida and Abel Alonort Asoogo are running for the Upper East Region FA Chairman role.
The event in Tamale is expected to host observers from FIFA, including Gelson Fernandes, Director of Member Associations for Africa; Silmara Sousa, FIFA Development Programme Coordinator; and Mr. Ahmed Harraz, FIFA Member Associations Africa representative.
In just the first five days of October 2023, the month has already witnessed significant news headlines, particularly in the realm of politics.
At the forefront of these headlines is the unfortunate passing of three well-known figures within the country, all of whom have played pivotal roles in Ghana’s fourth republic.
This article delves into these three distinguished individuals who have left us this week, beginning with the formerFirst Lady, Theresa Kufuor.
Following the conclusion of her tenure as Ghana’s First Lady on January 7, 2009, Theresa Kufuor chose a more private life and largely stayed away from the public eye.
However, on October 1, 2023, the nation received the sombre news of her passing.
Theresa Kufuor dies at 87:
Theresa Kufuor, a retired midwife and the wife of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, reportedly passed away at her residence in Peduase, situated in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Confirming this heartbreaking news, P. K. Mensah, a spokesperson for the former president, announced that the former First Lady had peacefully left us in the afternoon of Sunday, October 1.
Enoch Teye Mensah dies at 77:
On the evening of Sunday, October 1, 2023, the sad news of the passing of Enoch Teye Mensah, a former Member of Parliament representing Ningo-Prampram, was officially confirmed.
Enoch Teye Mensah, a prominent member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), peacefully departed this life at the age of 77.
His demise occurred in South Africa after a period of battling with poor health.
ET Mensah, as he was affectionately known, had a distinguished political career.
He not only served as a Member of Parliament but also took on the roles of Minister for Education and Minister of Sports at various junctures in the country’s history.
Enoch Teye Mensah, whose professional background was in accounting, held the position of Member of Parliament from January 1997 to January 2017.
Unfortunately, his political journey came to an end when he was defeated in the NDC primaries by the current MP for the same constituency, Sam Nartey George.
During his tenure, he, alongside the current Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and Cletus Avoka, the MP for Zebilla, earned the collective nickname “The Three Wisemen” within Ghana’s Parliament House.
This moniker was a testament to their extensive and dedicated service as lawmakers.
Enoch Teye Mensah is survived by his widow and seven children.
Felix Owusu-Adjapong passes on at 79:
On the evening of Wednesday, October 4, 2023, the passing of Felix Owusu-Adjapong, a former Majority Leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration, was officially announced. Mr. Owusu-Adjapong departed this world at the age of 79.
The confirmation of his passing came from the current Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, who shared the news via his social media handle on X (formerly known as Twitter) on the same Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
“Deep condolences to the family… The former majority leader, Hon. Felix Owusu, passed on,” Annoh-Dompreh posted.
F. K. Owusu-Adjapong (born February 13, 1944) was a Ghanaian politician and a former Member of the Parliament of Ghana as a New Patriotic Party (NPP) representative for Akyem Swedru of the Eastern Region of Ghana.
He was also a former Minister of Energy.
Early life and education
Felix Owusu-Adjapong pursued his education in various fields. He obtained a degree in land economy from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.
Additionally, he furthered his studies by specialising in housing, planning, and building at the Bouwcentrum Institute in Rotterdam. He expanded his knowledge by delving into urban land appraisal at the University of Reading in England.
Furthermore, he ventured into the field of law, completing his legal education at the Ghana School of Law.
Political career
Felix Owusu-Adjapong has a notable political career, having served as aMember of Parliament in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Parliaments of Ghana’s fourth republic. His journey began when he was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Akyem Swedru in the 1996 general elections, securing 15,824 votes, which accounted for 45.30% of the total valid votes cast that year.
His popularity continued to grow, and he was re-elected in the 2000 general elections with an even more substantial majority, garnering 14,614 votes, or 56.80% of the total votes cast.
In February 2001, he took on the role of Minister for Transport and Communications, and later, in April 2003, he assumed the position of Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.
The 2004 Ghanaian general elections saw Owusu-Adjapong once again emerge as a Member of Parliament with a significant majority, as he received 21,048 votes, accounting for 66.94% of the total votes cast.
In 2007, he made the decision to step down from his ministerial post, embarking on an unsuccessful bid for the presidential nomination of the NPP.
He did not contest his parliamentary constituency in the 2008 general elections. However, in June 2008, he was appointed as the Minister of Energy, serving in this capacity until the end of Kufuor’s government in January 2009.
Kennedy Agyapong, who serves as theMember of Parliament for Assin Central and is also a potential flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has addressed a viral video, emphasising that he did not accuse the NPP of recklessly depleting the nation’s resources with no concern for the future, as depicted in the video clip.
He clarified that the video had been taken from a private meeting he held with some NPP communicators in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, over the past weekend. In the video, the Assin Central MP criticised the NPP for engaging in activities that raised serious concerns, alleging that they were “plundering” the country without considering its long-term consequences.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Agyapong argued that the video had been intentionally edited to damage his reputation and cast a negative light on the Akufo-Addo government.
“My attention has been drawn to a video on social media that has since gone viral where I am heard saying that the NPP was looting the country as if there was not tomorrow. I wish to state that this is a complete and unfortunate misrepresentation of the actual content and focus of my message at that private event in Kumasi. It was a meeting with a small group of NPP communicators who had organised a small fundraising event for me at the weekend.
“At the event, I lamented the fact that our communicators were letting the party down and that every government would have its fair share of corruption cases, especially in 8 years, but because of one or two bad cases which the authorities were handling and in a transparent manner as it should be, we have, sadly, allowed the ruthless opposition propaganda machinery, the mass media and the social media to create the deadly impression that NPP was looting as If there was no tomorrow, including allegations of stashing funds abroad,” part of the statement read.
Agyapong went on to provide further clarification, stating that the video had been recorded during a private meeting and had been deliberately edited with the intent to sow discord, tarnish his reputation, and negatively impact the government’s standing.
“I wish to stress the point that the offending video was culled from a private meeting with some communicators in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, over the weekend and edited to purposefully create disaffection towards me, Ken Ohene, and Agyapong and to bring the Akufo-Addo government into disrepute.
“Indeed, I told the gathering not to be fooled by the lies against our government and party and also expressed my anger and unhappiness about the way we were allowing ourselves to be unfairly bashed in the media, especially social media, as if we were worse than the NDC, which is certainly not the case,” the statement further read.
Kennedy Agyapong maintained that he was focused on helping the party break the eight, as that is their mantra.
“I remain a committed member of our great party and hope to lead us in our quest to ‘break the eight’, as together, we faceJohn Mahama and the NDC for the “showdown” on December 7, 2024,” the statement read in its concluding part.
Vice President of Imani, Kofi Bentil, has publicly praised Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for his composed and unwavering leadership in the face of criticism and attacks.
Dr. Bawumia frequently finds himself targeted by the opposition NDC and, more recently, by some of his rivals within the NPP primaries. In a Facebook post, Mr. Bentil commended the Vice President for maintaining his composure amidst these challenges.
“VP Bawumia’s calmness under attack is extremely commendable,” Kofi Bentil wrote in a post on Facebook.
Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus has quickly made his mark in the Europa League, emerging as one of the top scorers after just one game in the group stage.
Playing for West Ham, Kudus netted twice against Backa Topola, putting him on par with former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Moroccan forward Ayoub El Kaabi at the top of the goal-scoring chart.
Other notable players on this list include Joao Pedro of Brighton and Hove Albion and Ladislav Krejci of Sparta Prague.
Kudus and his West Ham teammates are preparing for their second Group A match, which will take place in Germany.
The Ghanaian international is eager to continue adding to his goal tally.
Although Kudus joined the Hammers during the summer transfer window, he has already started two games, receiving the Man of the Match award in both instances.
However, in the English Premier League, he has yet to secure a starting position despite making three substitute appearances.
Kudus made the move to England following an impressive campaign in the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax Amsterdam last season.
Morocco, Spain, and Portugal have successfully secured the hosting rights for the 2030 World Cup, a momentous occasion as it coincides with the tournament’s centenary.
FIFA has chosen to kick off the World Cup with the opening three matches taking place in South America, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay selected as the host nations for this historic launch.
Notably, all six nations involved in the bid—Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina—will earn automatic qualification for the tournament, making it the first World Cup to span three continents.
Following the initial matches, the tournament will then progress to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal for the remainder of the competition, while the Opening Ceremony will still be held in one of these three host countries.
This decision grants Morocco the distinction of becoming the first North African nation to host World Cup matches. Originally, Morocco had planned a solo bid but later formed an alliance with Spain and Portugal in March.
Furthermore, this marks Portugal’s maiden opportunity to host the World Cup after previous unsuccessful bids in 2018 and 2022.
The groundbreaking aspect of this World Cup lies in its multi-nation hosting format, an unprecedented approach for the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, had already set a precedent with three host nations.
With this innovative hosting format,FIFA is paving the way for future bids, and there is hope for potential bids for the 2034 tournament from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
Journalist and Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana show host, Paul Adom-Otchere, has weighed in on the minority’s refusal to present their petition to the representative of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) governor and Head of Security, Wing Commander Kwame Asare Boateng, slamming the leadership of the National Democratic Congress for their “contemptuous” disregard for BoG’s head of security.
Paul Adom-Otchere, while speaking on his show on October 3, 2023, mentioned that the receiving of the petition by the head of security on behalf of the BoG governor was no sign of disrespect, as purported by the NDC, an act that dates way back to the time of late president Fiifi Atta Mills and Flt.Lt. Jerry Rawlings.
Considering the weight of ranks compared to the late Flt.Ltd. Jerry John Rawlings, founder of the NDC, Paul noted that Wing Commander Kwame Asare is senior to the founder of the “whole NDC.”
He said, “Now who is a wing commander ? He is higher than a flight lieutenant.We had a flight lieutenant who became a commander in chief and later a successful president. You respect him but you don’t respect a wing commander higher than a flight lieutenant?
“I don’t understand the NDC. You had a flight lieutenant setting up your party and a flight ltd will salute a wing commander every morning, and you’ve come to meet the wing commander and you say I won’t hand a petition to you because you are security; your party was set up by a flight lieutenant. Your whole NDC was founded by his junior.
“Flt. Lt. Rawlings is junior to this man. Flt. Lt. Rawlings, a captain, set up your while party; you respect that,” he fumed.
He said the leadership of the NDC has rather disrespected Wing Commander Kwame after Minority Leader Ato Forson remarked that “we never said we were going to present our petition to the head of security or someone responsible for security”.
Apologising on behalf of the NDC , Paul called out the leadershipof the NDC to rather apologise to BoG’s head of security for their gross disrespect.
“I was totally surprised; that is totally disrespectful, not just to the man but also if you look at Ato Forson and the man’s profile, given that Ato Forson has been elected by some people, I respect that but if you look at the man’s profile, Ato Forson should not be able to tell him that you have disrespected me
“Why do you disrespect such an important person because he was called security? You are the minority leader; you read through documents all the time,” Paul noted.
On October 3, 2023, hundreds of Ghanaians led by the Minority in Parliament throng the streets to demand the removal of BoG’s governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, who is accused of mismanaging the Central Bank.
Hopeful of meeting the governor himself, they were left disappointed and feeling “disrespected,” as mentioned by the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, after Head of Security, Wing Commander Kwame Asare Boateng, announced he would be receiving the petition on the governor’s behalf.
He informed the delegation that Dr Addison had been occupied by a team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), hence his absence.
The Minority Leader, Dr Ato Forson, in turn, got upset and vented his spleen over what he described as gross disrespect by the BoG Governor to Parliament and Ghanaians.
Captain of the Black Stars, Andre Dede Ayew, has been omitted fromChris Hughton’s roster for the upcoming international break against the USA and Mexico.
Five players, including Andre, Jonathan Sowah, Baba Rahman, and Baba Idrissu, have been excluded from the squad that competed against the Central African Republic and Liberia in the previous international break.
In the meantime, Thomas Partey, Daniel Amartey, and Tariq Lamptey have returned to the 23-man squad.
Ghana concluded the previous international break with two victories in two matches and aims to continue their winning streak when they take on Mexico on October 15 and the USA on October 18, 2023.
The Black Stars will first face Mexico at the Bank of America Stadium before clashing with the USA at Geodis Park.
Since their 2-0 loss to Uruguay at the2022 FIFA World Cup, Chris Hughton’s team has remained unbeaten.
On Tuesday, the Falcon 7X belonging to thePresident of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, was auctioned off for 7.1 million euros at the Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux.
This aircraft was seized in June 2020 at the Bordeaux airport.
The seizure, carried out by a bailiff during maintenance work, was part of a lengthy series of legal proceedings initiated over decades by the head of the company, Commisimpex, a Lebanese businessman, against the Congolese government.
The auction of this Dassault Aviation-produced aircraft was ordered by the Bordeaux judicial court in December 2022 and subsequently confirmed in June 2023 by the court of appeal.
The starting price was set at seven million euros.
The auction was conducted by Vincent Pestel-Debord and concluded within seconds with a single bidder, who remains anonymous.
This bidder has three days to settle the remaining balance of the purchase and will be required to remove the aircraft’s livery, which currently bears the colours of the Republic of Congo, according to Mr. Pestel-Debord.
The proceeds from this sale are intended to compensate Commisimpex for unpaid public works.
The owner of Commisimpex, Mohsen Hojeij, a former close associate of President Sassou Nguesso, had secured several contracts between 1983 and 1986, including the construction of a bridge and a village, among others.
However, in 1986, following the collapse of oil prices, the economic situation in the Republic of Congo deteriorated, and only a portion of the contracted work was completed.
In 2000 and then in 2013, the International Court of Arbitration in Paris twice ruled that Congo was obligated to compensate Mr. Hojeij’s company.
Over the years, the amount sought by the businessman grew significantly, from approximately 100 million euros when the dispute commenced in 1992 to around 1.7 billion euros today.
Member of Asante Kotoko’s Interim Management Committee (IMC), James Kwasi Appiah has suggested that he may not become the head coach of the Sudanese national team.
He revealed that he has not yet signed the contract for this position.
Back in September 2023, it was reported that the Sudanese Football Association had appointed James Kwasi Appiah, the former Ghana national team coach, as their new head coach on a three-year deal.
Before this development, Kwasi Appiah had been announced as part of a four-member committee by Life Patron Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to oversee the operations of Asante Kotoko.
However, the 63-year-old tactician is also in the running for a position on the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association, with the election scheduled for Thursday, October 5 in Tamale.
Kwasi Appiah has expressed his commitment to both his rolewith Kotoko and his candidature for the Executive Council, showing a strong interest in both opportunities.
Jurgen Klopp has called for a replay of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham, citing VAR’s failure to intervene when Luis Diaz’s ‘goal’ was disallowed.
Klopp made this remarkable assertion during his press conference in preparation for Liverpool’s Europa League encounter with Union Saint-Gilloise at Anfield.
“As a football person, I think the outcome should be a replay,” the German coach said. “The audio didn’t change it at all. It’s important that we deal with it in a proper way. They didn’t do it on purpose; we should not forget that.”
Video Assistant Referee Darren England was unable to correct an erroneous on-field decision that led to the disallowance of a Luis Diaz ‘goal’ in Liverpool’s match against Spurs on Saturday. This incident took place with the score level, and Liverpool ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat.
The PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) supplied Liverpool with an audio recording capturing the communication between the on-field referees and the VAR officials. Subsequently, the recording was made public.
The recording shows that England carried out a check of the goal but mistakenly believed that the on-field decision had been ‘goal’.
It was only after he told referee Simon Hooper that the check was complete and play resumed that he realised that his saying “check complete” had upheld the incorrect offside call.
PGMOL put the mistake down to ‘a significant human error’. Liverpool published a statement saying that the sporting integrity of the game had been undermined and that the club would “explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution.”
England and assistant VAR Dan Cook have been removed from their respective officiating roles scheduled for Sunday and Monday, and they will not participate in any matches during the upcoming weekend.
Moussi was apprehended outside the presidential palace in Carthage, where she had arrived to submit appeals against presidential decrees.
In a video posted on the PDL’s Facebook page, the opposition leader stated that the president’s office had declined to accept her appeal or provide an acknowledgment of receipt.
Naoufel Bouden, the PDL’s attorney, has stated that the reasons for Moussi’s arrest remain undisclosed.
“More details are expected this evening or tomorrow,” he said.
Party members denounced the arrest as a “kidnapping” in statements to the Tunisian media.
Moussi, a former Member of Parliament, stands as a staunch adversary of both President Kais Said and the Ennahdha Islamists.
She holds allegiance to the late President Zine El Abidine ben Ali, who was ousted in 2011 during the initial Arab Spring uprising.
Critics on the left accuse Moussi of attempting to reintroduce a new dictatorship in Tunisia.
President Saied’s administration has taken a firm stance against the opposition, resulting in the imprisonment of several prominent opposition figures since February, including Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Islamo-conservative Ennahdha party.
Critics of Saied’s presidency have condemned it as authoritarian, with international organisations earlier this year expressing concerns about the nation’s shift towards autocracy.
Rubiales has insisted to Spain’s National Court that the Spanish striker gave him consent to kiss her during the medal ceremony. The 46-year-old sparked controversy when he kissed Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s 2-1 defeat of England in the World Cup final on August 20. Hermoso claimed that the kiss was non-consensual, and Rubiales resigned from his position three weeks after the incident.
“She knows perfectly well that she is being untrue,” Rubiales told prosecutors, as reported by El Espanol.
“At the medal ceremony, I was hugging the players and the coach when she passed by. She comes to me to give me a hug. We hug, she lifts me up and I make a gesture so as not to fall. All this with a conversation in which I remind her—because she had missed a penalty—to cheer her up a little and say that without her, we couldn’t have won the World Cup.
“She tells me I’m a crack [an endearing slang term in Spanish]. Thank you very much. And then I ask her, ‘can I give you a little kiss, a little peck?’ And she tells me that it’s okay.”
Prosecutors asked Rubiales why he grabbed Hermoso around the head and if she had given her consent to be kissed.
“Well, out of joy,” he replied. “She grabs me wherever she can; I grab her too and that’s it. Two or three minutes later, they all grabbed me and pulled me up, swinging me.
“And at that moment, I’m not going to say that they shouldn’t touch me; excuse me, my butt, my knees or my shoulder. We have won a World Cup and the tremendous euphoria and joy there are indescribable.
“It happened that way because when you win the lottery, a war ends, the war in Ukraine ends or you win a World Cup, well, that effusiveness, that spontaneity…”
Also, Rubiales asserted that he and Hermoso spoke briefly about the possible consequences of the kiss.
“Hey, Jenni, why don’t we both go out? Let’s end this, because this is going to hurt me a lot,” Rubiales claimed to have said.
Rubiales said that Hermoso replied, “No, look, President Rubi, I’ll pass. I want to enjoy the World Cup. I’m not going to make any more statements.”
According to El Confidencial, Rubiales pressured an RFEF employee to testify that Hermoso gave her consent to the kiss. Rubiales is banned from contacting Hermoso and from being within 200 metres of her.
After the World Cup, many Spanish players signed a statement stating their intention to boycott playing for the national team until significant structural changes had been made.
Their stance did not initially change after Rubiales’ resignation, but many reported for duty at the end of September for fear of the legal repercussions of not doing so.
On Tuesday, there were allegations of mutual accusations between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) regarding the shelling of the Ethiopian Embassy’s premises in Khartoum.
“Following the brutal attack by the dissolved rebel rapid support militia on the headquarters of the Ethiopian Embassy in Khartoum, the militia issued a miserable statement in a bid to pin its heinous crime on the armed forces,” the Saf said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Since the beginning of this ongoing war, the armed forces have demonstrated keenness to observe international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of protected objects, including the headquarters of diplomatic missions accredited to the country,” the statement said.
For its part, the RSF accused the Saf of shelling the Ethiopian embassy headquarters, causing massive destruction to the embassy building, which is located in the Al Amarat neighbourhood of Khartoum.
“We condemn and regret these barbaric actions targeting vital facilities in the country, including the headquarters of diplomatic missions and international organisations,” the RSF said in a statement on Tuesday.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Saf and RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, resulting in at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry.
According to the latest report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), some 5.3 million people have been displaced inside and outside Sudan.
“Over one million people have crossed into neighbouring countries, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan,” Ocha said.
Health authorities in Kenya are currently probing an unidentified illness that has led to the hospitalisation of over 90 schoolgirls.
These students, attending Eregi Girls High School in the western part of the country, have experienced challenges with walking and have reported symptoms of knee pain.
A senior official from the Ministry of Education, who visited the school on Tuesday, reassured concerned parents that the situation was being managed effectively.
He also conveyed that regular classes would proceed as usual for the remaining students.
“The education department, the county government and the public health department are giving a commitment that the children will be treated,” said Jared Obiero, the regional director of education.
The sick students’ blood, urine, and stool samples were submitted to labs in Nairobi and Kisumu, two nearby cities.
Jude Bellingham has downplayed comparisons to Diego Maradona following his remarkable solo goal that contributed to Real Madrid’s victory over Napoli in the Champions League.
In a thrilling match at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Tuesday, Real Madrid came from behind to secure a 3-2 win, establishing their dominance in Champions League Group C.
Bellingham’s sensational goal drew parallels to the legendary Argentinian player. After Vinicius Junior had equalised for Madrid, the 20-year-old seized the ball just inside Napoli’s half, skillfully bypassed multiple defenders, and slotted it into the net.
“That’s a bit too much!” Bellingham replied when the style of his goal was compared to Maradona. “It was a nice goal. From what I’ve seen on YouTube and in documentaries, his [Maradona’s] quality was a bit more than mine, or a lot more. I’m just trying to contribute in a Jude way.”
Bellingham has now scored eight goals in nine appearances for Real Madrid following his £88.5 million ($107.7 million/€103 million) move from Borussia Dortmund over the summer. Keen to take the spotlight off himself, the England international labelled teammate and fellow goalscorer Vinicius “the best in the world” after the match.
Bellingham aims to maintain his exceptional form this season as Real Madrid faces Osasuna on Saturday. A victory would propel Los Blancos to the top of La Liga as they head into the international break.
Additionally,it is anticipated that Bellingham will be included in the England squad for their upcoming fixtures against Australia and Italy.
Former Black Stars forward Kevin-Prince Boateng has expressed doubts about Manchester United coach Erik Ten Hag’s competence and ability to manage a club of United’s stature.
According to the former Tottenham forward, he believes it’s time for Manchester United to part ways with Ten Hag and seek a coach with the necessary knowledge and experience to guide the club.
Boateng made these remarks during an appearance on Rio Ferdinand’s ‘Vibe with Five’ podcast.
The AC Milan cult hero pointed to Ten Hag’s handling of the Ronaldo situation and what he perceived as a lack of passion at Manchester United as key reasons behind his belief that the Dutch coach should be relieved of his duties.
In particular, Kevin-Prince Boateng criticised Ten Hag’s decision to allow Ronaldo to leave the club, as he viewed Ronaldo as the team’s best player and the most dependable source of goals.
He also voiced his disapproval of Ten Hag’s management of the Sancho situation, suggesting that such issues should be handled privately.
“I think he’s gotta go because there is no energy. What he did to Ronaldo and stuff—I think there is too much stuff. He’s not on the level to coach United. Even if the team is not the best still there is still no fire. You come to Old Trafford and there is no passion and fire and if my players don’t do that, as a coach, I have to do that.
“He was your top scorer and you just kick him out. He goes against the best player on the team; you don’t do that. There are ways to let players off and I think he chose the wrong way. I think you are wrong because you don’t have to put it out there. It looks so bad for the club, Ten Hag and Sancho. It’s too negative,” he said.
Under the guidance of Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United has encountered a challenging start to the 2023–2024 season, recording four losses and three wins in seven Premier League matches. Their performance in the Champions League has also been underwhelming, with consecutive losses in their opening two games against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
In the same interview, Kevin Prince Boateng also shared details of how he turned down an offer from Arsenal during his teenage years.
Luis Enrique reportedly raised concerns about Marco Verratti’s lifestyle, leading to the decision to exclude the Italian midfielder from the Paris Saint-Germain squad.
During the summer, both PSG’s manager and sporting director, Luis Campos, reportedly conveyed to Verratti that he was not part of their future plans and was welcome to seek a transfer from the club.
“Though Luis Enrique liked the Italian midfielder’s playing style, it was his lifestyle that the manager was not particularly a fan of. Luis Enrique had even told the player “You are the prototype of the player I hate”, according to Le Parisien.
Following his exclusion from the PSG squad, Verratti has made the decision to depart the club after 11 years, making his way to Qatar to join Al-Arabi.
It has been reported that the Ligue 1 champions received a fee of €45 million from the Qatari club for the midfielder.
Two seasoned Ghanaian gospel musicians, Great Ampong and Nicholas Omane Acheapong, have emerged as the organisers behind the demonstration against the leadership of theGhana Football Association (GFA) scheduled for October 4.
They lead a group known as the Ghana Football Stakeholders Forum, which is spearheading the protest against the GFA leadership.
The Ghana Police have granted approval for the group to proceed with their planned protest.
During an interview on Peace FM, Great Ampong expressed his dissatisfaction with the disqualification of George Afriyie, the former Vice President of the GFA, from the race for the GFA presidential position.
He also pointed out that the current GFA administration has led to significant turmoil in football, to the extent that Ghana’s performance in tournaments has suffered.
He pointed out that “since they took over, everything has declined, from the U17 to the Black Stars, we always get knockouts. If the GFA president thinks he has achieved the unprecedented, why does he want to go unopposed? He should allow his opponents to join the race.”
According to him, although he is a musician, he has always loved football, and it’s evident since his brother is a musician and his children are also in the football academy.
He emphasised the strong connection between football and music, saying, “Football and music go together, which is why often before matches you see players listening to songs. I was blessed with football talent as well, but it’s music I decided to pursue. All my children are in the academy; my brother is also a footballer. We are rescuing Ghana football for our next generation.”
The Ghana Football Stakeholders Forum intends to submit a petition to the GFA, Ministry of Sports, and Office of the President with the aim of rescuing Ghanaian football from the leadership of Kurt Okraku.
Aurelio De Laurentiis emphasises that Victor Osimhen’s contract status is “not up for discussion”, following the recent TikTok video controversy involving Napoli.
Napoli successfully retained their key forwards, Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, during the summer transfer window after clinching the coveted Scudetto title.
Nonetheless, speculation connecting the Nigerian striker with a transfer to the Premier League gained traction last week after he became embroiled in a social media controversy.
Napoli’s TikTok account appeared to mock Osimhen when it published a video of him missing a penalty, accompanied by a high-pitched voice-over saying, “Gimme penalty, please.”
The player’s agent threatened legal action, while Osimhen deleted all mention of the club from his Instagram page. The 24-year-old started Napoli’s 4-0 win against Lecce on the bench but released a statement saying he will “not allow anyone to come between” himself and Napoli and that his love for the club is “unwavering.”
After Napoli suffered a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in theChampions League on Tuesday, the club’s president dismissed fears that the TikTok incident has jeopardised efforts to get his star striker to sign a new contract.
“Victor is a player who makes a team on his own; it’s not up for discussion,” De Laurentiis said to El Chiringuito. “There is no problem with the renewal; everyone in Napoli is happy.”
Osimhen, the top scorer in Serie A last season, was acquired by Napoli from Lille in 2020. Since then, clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich have been connected with Osimhen.
The prospect of theUK and Republic of Ireland hosting Euro 2028 appears highly likely following the official withdrawal of the Turkish FA from the bidding process.
Turkey has decided to shift its focus towards co-hosting the tournament with Italy in 2032, and this joint proposal has received UEFA’s approval, as announced in July.
With Turkey no longer competing for the 2028 hosting rights, the UK and Republic of Ireland’s bid is now unopposed.
While Wembley Stadium did host the semi-finals and final of the delayed 2020 European Championship, it’s worth noting that the UK has not hosted an entire major tournament since 1996.
Both bids will require official approval at a meeting of UEFA’s executive committee on Tuesday. An official statement from UEFA read: “The presentations at that meeting will be an important part of the process, which will take due consideration of the content of the bid submissions before reaching a decision.”
Pending approval, Euro 2028 will be jointly hosted by the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The list of proposed stadiums includes well-known venues such as Wembley Stadium and Hampden Park, along with the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
