João Félix has admitted that he struggled to acclimatise toAtletico Madrid and Diego Simeone’s tactics despite his sensational beginning with Barcelona.
Félix, aged 23, has already netted three goals in his initial two starts for Barcelona since his recent loan move from Atletico earlier this month.
The Portuguese forward initially joined Atletico from Benfica for a substantial €126 million ($134 million) fee in 2019, but during his four seasons under coach Simeone, he failed to fully meet the high expectations set for him.
“When things are going badly in football for someone, you have to make a change,” Félix said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo on Thursday.
“I did it before going to Chelsea [on loan in the second half of last season] and now coming to Barcelona because it was not going well [at Atletico].
“I didn’t adapt to the club’s or the coach’s ideas, but I always tried to do the best I could. I have had good times there as well.”
BBC reporter named Thomas Naadi and his cameraman were detained during the#OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration on Thursday morning, September 21, 2023.
While Thomas Naadi was later released, his cameraman remains in police custody.
Additionally, a Metro TV reporter was subjected to police assault during the peaceful protest that commenced on Thursday morning.
According to Citi News’ Fred Duhoe, a tumultuous situation unfolded at the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters, where protesters were physically attacked while demanding the release of their fellow demonstrators.
The legal representatives of the protestors have expressed their intention to secure bail for their clients through legal procedures scheduled for Friday.
After extensive discussions with officers at the Accra regional police headquarters, both parties have reached an agreement to address the matter in court on Friday, September 22.
It’s noteworthy that political activist Bernard Monah and the former MP forTamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, along with the legal representatives of the protesters, met with the police to gain a clearer understanding of the charges filed against the demonstrators.
📍These guys came out with horses and rifles like this is a civil war. All this to stop people from peacefully protesting about the bad economic conditions they’re being made to live through. You can’t make this up.#OccupyJulorbiHousepic.twitter.com/Dlu1qMgvmP
In response to the arrest of protestors during the #OccupyJulorBiHouse demonstration, a contingent of Ghana Police Service personnel has been deployed to Jubilee House, the seat of government.
These officers, equipped with crowd control vehicles and riot gear, have formed a protective line along the streets in front of Jubilee House.
Their presence is intended to deter any further attempts to stage demonstrations in the vicinity.
In images shared on social media, additional officers can be observed positioned on horseback, forming a line to discourage any potential future protests.
The arrests occurred during the early hours of Thursday, September 21.
Mr. Vormawor conveyed his disappointment with the police’s actions in a video posted on Facebook.
He stated that the country had weaponized the police to suppress demonstrators, adding that “they have no right to arrest demonstrators in the country. This is not the democracy we signed up for. This is not a democracy.
📍These guys came out with horses and rifles like this is a civil war. All this to stop people from peacefully protesting about the bad economic conditions they’re being made to live through. You can’t make this up.#OccupyJulorbiHousepic.twitter.com/Dlu1qMgvmP
The Accra-based civil society group organising the protest, Democracy Hub, had earlier notified the Ghana Police Service of their planned demonstration on Nkrumah Memorial Day to call on “the President and members of the Economic Management Team to #FixTheCountry in light of the level of economic mismanagement and theft that has engulfed our government from the highest levels.”
But on the eve of the event, the police secured an injunction from the court barring the protest from moving forth.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has called upon the public to contemplate Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s development-oriented vision and utilise his accomplishments as a benchmark for holding governments accountable.
The party emphasised that Dr. Nkrumah’s deliberate investments in crucial sectors of the economy and his drive for industrialization played a pivotal role in steering the nation towards economic independence, despite his “painful overthrow” from power in 1966.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency ahead of the commemoration of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day on Thursday, the General Secretary of the CPP, Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah, said Dr Nkrumah should be the “yardstick of good governance.”
She encouraged the public to contemplate the present condition of Ghana’s economy and compare it to the accomplishments of Dr. Nkrumah, who exerted unwavering effort to transform the nation into a formidable entity after it gained independence in 1957.
“Ghana was on the road to gaining economic independence, but Nkrumah was painfully taken out of power.
“Kwame Nkrumah developed and industrialised this nation. He created a good healthcare system for the nation and was very prudent with the resources that we had and used them to build a lot of infrastructure, including the Akosombo Dam and the Harbour,” she said.
According to Nana Yaa Jantuah, the current condition of the Ghanaian economy, marked by elevated inflation, a weakened local currency, and insurmountable debts, serves as a stark reflection of how far the aspiration for complete economic independence has disintegrated.
“It is time for us to arise to hold our government accountable. Ghanaians should let governments that come into power understand that they cannot do what they like and that the yardstick should be whatKwame Nkrumah did,” she said.
Ghanaians are scheduled to observe Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day on Thursday, September 21, 2023, which has been designated as a Statutory Public Holiday.
This special day is dedicated to the remembrance and commemoration of Ghana’s inaugural president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who formerly held the position of Prime Minister. He was renowned as a leading advocate for continental unity and the liberation of the black race in Africa.
On March 6, 1957, Ghana attained independence after enduring 83 years of British colonial rule. This historic moment marked the country’s status as the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from British colonialism.
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana “free forever” from colonial oppression, signifying a momentous milestone in the nation’s governance.
Manchester City is actively seeking to bolster their defence by pursuing the signing of Valentin Barco, a 19-year-old left-back from Boca Juniors, according to reports from Football Insider.
Valentin Barco has garnered attention through his impressive performances in Argentina and with the Argentine U20 national team.
The potential transfer fee for Barco is estimated at £15 million, as he has not yet extended his contract with Boca Juniors.
Additionally, Manchester City is on the verge of finalising a deal for Divine Mukasa, a 16-year-old England U17 midfielder from West Ham.
Divine Mukasa has shown promise in West Ham’s youth academy, and City is prepared to offer him a long-term contract, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea is nearing an agreement with U.S. firm Ares Management for a substantial $500 million investment aimed at supporting the club’s ambitious expansion plans, including the construction of a new stadium, according to sources familiar with the matter, as reported by ESPN.
In their quest to secure funds for various growth initiatives, Chelsea has engaged with several potential investors, and it appears that Ares, an alternative asset management company, is edging closer to a deal to inject capital into the club.
Chelsea’s spending on transfers has surpassed £1 billion ($1.23 billion) since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover of the club in May.
Sources close to both the ownership and the club have consistently stated that there are no immediate cash flow issues or concerns regarding compliance with UEFA’s financial fair play regulations.
The newly acquired funds are expected to play a pivotal role in supporting the club’s endeavours, such as potential stadium redevelopment or relocation from Stamford Bridge, as well as enhancing their Cobham training facility.
Furthermore, the investment will facilitate the pursuit of a multi-club model, which both Boehly and Clearlake deem vital for future growth.
Sources have indicated that Sporting CP, a Portuguese club, is considered a prime candidate to be part of the envisioned multi-club model.
Nacho commented that Jude Bellingham “was born to play for Real Madrid” following the midfielder’s impressive performance, which included his sixth goal in as many games.
Bellingham’s goal secured a 1-0 victory for theLaLiga giants over Union Berlin in their opening Group C Champions League match.
The English midfielder, who made a €103 million move from Dortmund during the summer, capitalised on a loose ball in the six-yard box during the 94th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu. This late strike denied the Bundesliga side a point in their Champions League debut.
Jude Bellingham has now found the back of the net in five out of six appearances for Real Madrid, with his only goalless match being the 2-1 league victory over Real Sociedad last Sunday.
“I think Jude was born to play for Real Madrid,” club captain Nacho told Movistar. “We’re lucky to have him here with us. Let’s hope he keeps scoring goals.”
It appears highly unlikely thatManchester United’s winger, Jadon Sancho, will make a return to Borussia Dortmund in the upcoming January transfer window, according to reports from Sport Bild.
Despite earlier speculation linking him with a return to Dortmund or a move to Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga side has shown no interest in re-signing the 23-year-old.
During his previous four-year stint at Signal Iduna Park, the England international had an impressive record, tallying 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 appearances.
However, since his high-profile €85 million transfer to Old Trafford in July 2021, Sancho has faced challenges in securing a regular spot in the team under manager Erik ten Hag.
He has managed to score only 12 times for Manchester United, and his future with the club has come under question, particularly after a public dispute with the Dutch manager.
Following his public criticism of Ten Hag’s comments about his non-selection, Sancho is currently training in isolation, and there is no definitive timeline for his return to the squad.
Further complicating matters, SPORT recently reported that Barcelona is closely monitoring the situation and has expressed interest in acquiring the winger in the January transfer window.
However, the prospect of a move toCamp Nou remains uncertain, as the LaLiga champions may struggle to meet Manchester United’s €50 million asking price. This could potentially lead to negotiations for a loan move instead.
The Government of Ghana, in collaboration with the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has initiated a €10 million project aimed at assisting 50,000 vulnerable Ghanaians facing food security challenges in various parts of the Northern Region.
This project has several key objectives:
To establish more economically sustainable and inclusive food systems.
To empower communities to develop resilient and profitable food production systems while promoting environmental sustainability.
To enhance social sustainability and gender inclusivity within food systems.
To improve the governance and institutional sustainability of food systems.
The allocated funds will primarily support the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme (PFJ 2.0) and will target specific commodities.
These efforts complement the government’s initiatives to mitigate the adverse impacts of rising food, fertiliser, and fuel prices in vulnerable areas, with the ultimate goal of reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, expressed gratitude for the crucial financial support from the EU, emphasising the significance of international solidarity in addressing global food security challenges, especially in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
He highlighted the shared commitment to ensuring food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development in Ghana, acknowledging the substantial contributions made by the EU and its member states to Ghana’s economic progress.
The Minister said the EU, through its Member States and Development Programmes, had made significant contributions to Ghana’s economic progress.
“The agricultural sector has received a substantial amount of aid in the form of grants over the years. Under the current 11th European Development Fund, the EU-GAP programme allocated €132 million in grants for various interventions in the agricultural sector,” he added.
Dr Acheampong said the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine crisis, climate change and other factors had exacerbated the situation of many households, which struggled to access adequate and nutritious food.
“These challenges also put pressure on our food systems and require us to rethink our strategies to ensure food security and resilience in a sustainable way,” he added.
The Minister urged all partners to align all ongoing projects and future projects with PFJ 2.0 to ensure efficient and effective use of resources to achieve the common goal of increased food security, import substitution, increased exports, and job creation.
He expressed appreciation to FAO for the long-standing relations and collaboration through several policy and Technical Cooperation Projects in support of the agricultural sector.
Mr Yurdi Yasmi, FAO Representative in Ghana, said the project was a three-year emergency initiative to rapidly enhance food security and promote resilience in parts of northern Ghana.
“This is part of an EU regional response to address food crises and economic shocks in African countries that have been hit by global challenges such as theCOVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and climate change, among others,” he added.
The Representative emphasised that this support aligns closely with the EU’s “Farm to Fork Strategy,” which is designed to ensure a consistent and secure food supply, even in times of crisis. The strategy aims to provide citizens with a reliable source of safe, nutritious, affordable, and sustainable food at all times.
Additionally, this initiative aims to have a lasting impact on the enhancement of sustainable food production and the resilience of food systems in Ghana. It seeks to achieve economic, environmental, and social benefits within the country’s agrifood systems intentionally.
Mr. Yasmi highlighted the use of technologies and social innovations as key tools to enhance the efficiency of food production, particularly in improving water efficiency in agriculture.
Furthermore, the project will leverage digital agriculture, another technological aspect, to significantly reduce market failures and enhance the overall functioning of agricultural markets. This approach also aligns with tapping into the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“The collaboration between FAO, the EU and the government shows our commitment to rural families in Ghana and ending hunger and malnutrition while supporting the transition to more sustainable agrifood systems,” Mr Yasmi said.
Mr. Irchad Razaaly, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, highlighted that the swift mobilisation of €10 million for this emergency initiative underscores the EU’s commitment and solidarity, along with that of its Member States, in response to the escalating food prices. The primary objective is to safeguard food security and facilitate the transition to more robust food systems within Ghana.
Under this initiative, special attention will be given to capacity-building support for women, youth, and value chain participants. They will gain access to post-harvest technologies and receive training on vital aspects such as climate change adaptation, market access, financial services, and pest and disease management.
Ghanaian teenager Ibrahim Osman has earned a spot in FC Nordsjaelland’s squad for their upcoming match against Fenerbahce in the Europa Conference League.
The 18-year-old made a significant impact by scoring the winning goal against Partizan Belgrade, which secured Nordsjaelland’s place in the group stage of the competition.
Osman is expected to play a pivotal role in Nordsjaelland’s quest to advance to the knockout phase of the tournament.
The young winger has been in excellent form this season, earning the Young Player of the Month award in August.
So far, Osman has contributed two goals and four assists in various competitions during the new season.
Former goalkeeper for Hearts of Oak, Ebenezer Armah Dida, has expressed his belief that the choice to bring in foreign coaches doesn’t consistently yield the expected outcomes.
Dida pointed out that not even Ernst Middendrop, whom he regards as the most accomplished expatriate coach at the club, managed to secure the Ghana Premier League title during his tenure.
Dida is concerned that history might repeat itself with the recent appointment of Dutchman Martin Koopman as the club’s head coach.
He said: “I have always said this. Foreign coaches do not help us. When I check our history, the only foreign coach who helped us was Middendrop. That was in my time but I can’t say the same for others. He (Middendrop) even failed to win the league,” Dida said.
“When Boadu (coach Samuel Boadu) came, he won two trophies with Hearts. He is a Ghanaian. So, check the history. That’s what I know.”
Hearts of Oak lost their opening game against RTU and will be hoping to bounce back when they host Nsoatreman this weekend.
In August 2023, the Producer Price inflation rate saw a notable decrease, falling from the 32.9% recorded in July to 28.3%, marking a 4.6% point reduction.
Breaking down the sectors, the Industry sector experienced a modest decline, decreasing by 0.6% to reach 30.6% in August.
Meanwhile, in the construction sector, there was an increase of 6.8%, leading to a rate of 24.6% for the same month.
In contrast, the Services sector maintained a steady rate of 15%.
The Government Statistician, in a released statement, attributed this overall decrease to specific sectors. Electricity and gas recorded the highest rate at 68.3%, followed by Transportation and storage at 37.3%.
The Mining and Quarrying sub-sector, on the other hand, saw a slight decline of 0.3 percentage points, resulting in a rate of 32.8% in August 2023.
Accommodation and food recorded an inflation rate of 27.0%, while the Manufacturing sub-sector experienced a 1.0 percentage point decline, settling at 23.5%.
George Afriyie is poised to become the second presidential aspirant, following Wilfred Osei Kwaku, to file a petition challenging the GFA’s Appeals Committee at CAS after being disqualified by the Elections Committee.
George Afriyie’s legal advisor, Esquire Richard Saaka, exudes confidence in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturning the Appeals Committee’s verdict that upheld his client’s disqualification.
In a previous report by mynewsgh.com, it was revealed that George Afriyie, the former GFA vice president, has chosen to contest the Appeals Committee’s decision to uphold his disqualification at CAS.
This decision was prompted by the Appeals Committee’s communication of its dismissal of his application.
In an interview with Citi FM, Saaka said, ”We are going to go to CAS… and that’s the instructions I have. We are exploring the situation where the court in Ghana will explore the breaches of the rules on natural justice as far as George Afriyie’s candidature to stand for the office of the GFA president is concerned.”
Additionally, Saaka disclosed that pursuing an injunction application in the High Court to halt the GFA’s elections remained a viable alternative.
”That is the first thing we need to note: that it is not only CAS that can deal with this matter. The second thing we need to note is that, in the case we put before the Appeals Committee, we put a case including the breaches of natural justice.”
”The decisions have been that, when it comes to allegations (sic) of breaches of rules on natural justice, these contractual rules on agreement between parties, such as the statutes of the GFA, would not override the decisions or the authorities of the court.”
Afriyie made this decision following the Appeals Committee’s rejection of his application, citing his failure to obtain the necessary signatures to endorse his candidature as the reason for dismissal.
In its decision, the Appeals Committee said the sixth person is an ”in-house lawyer of the Ghana Football Association. The lawyer was not part of the vetting team and did not ask George Kwasi Afriyie any questions. The lawyer provided administrative assistance to the committee.”
The Appeals Committee further asserted that, in response to Afriyie’s claim that the Committee breached the rule of ”Natural Justice and Fair Hearing” of his candidature when it ”failed, neglected, and refused to apply article 8(3) of the FA regulations on elections,” the Appeals Committee said ”it is not a case that a Police Clearance Certificate or passport picture had not been included, which would have warranted the application of article 8(3) of the Elections Regulations.”
George Afriyie will become the second presidential aspirant after Wilfred Osei Kwaku to petition to challenge the GFA’s Appeals Committee at CAS following disqualification by the Elections Committee. In Kwaku Osei’s case in 2019, CAS upheld the decision of the Committee.
In a recent interview, Amanda Clinton, a former presidential aspirant of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), expressed her admiration for the work done by GFA President Kurt Okraku during his first term, characterizing it as a “fairly decent job.”
She commended Okraku for his efforts in reviving Ghana Football, particularly in light of the challenges it had encountered in the past.
While acknowledging Okraku’s performance, Clinton also raised concerns about his apparent reluctance to engage with challengers in the upcoming election.
Notably, George Afriyie, the sole challenger, had been disqualified, and his appeal was subsequently rejected. This has raised questions about the democratic process within the GFA.
“Optics-wise, it’s going to look really bad because he is the incumbent. He’s done a fairly decent job because of COVID. So to sit there as a de facto dictator-like figure when last four years we had, I think, six contenders, does not show anything of clearing the rot per se,” Clinton stated.
Expanding on her point, Amanda Clinton emphasised that, from an optics perspective, the current GFA President’s decision to avoid facing challengers in the upcoming election could be seen as the least favourable option.
This decision might suggest a sense of apprehension or unease, albeit for unspecified reasons.
It’s worth noting that Kurt Okraku, who secured victory in the 2019 elections, is approaching the end of his tenure, with the election slated for October 5th of the same year.
Following a series of disappointing results in the English Premier League,Manchester United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, found himself in a state of deep despair after his team’s defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, September 21, 2023.
Under the management of Erik Ten Haag, Manchester United had been struggling in domestic competitions, and their trip to the Allianz Arena didn’t provide the redemption they had hoped for.
Despite putting up a valiant fight, they ultimately succumbed to a 4-3 loss against the formidable hosts.
During the match, Onana received criticism for his performance, with several of Bayern Munich’s goals being attributed to his errors.
Nevertheless, his teammates rallied around him on the pitch, offering words of consolation after the final whistle.
In the post-match press conference, the Cameroonian international demonstrated a commendable sense of responsibility by openly acknowledging his role in the game’s outcome.
“It’s my responsibility; because of me, we didn’t win—and I have to learn from it. I have a lot to prove, because to be honest, my start inMan United is not so good,” he is quoted to have said.
During a media engagement, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal mentioned that his outfit would scout for tourist sites proximate to such ceremonies, where local dishes and drinks, among other crafts, would be sold.
“When there are funerals, people gather in places. What we want to do, i.e., the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), is that when there are funerals, we will also find tourist attractions at the places where the funerals occur, so that when they finish, we are going to serve Ghanaian dishes, Ghanaian drinks, sobolo and co.,” he noted.
To facilitate easy movement to their respective funeral grounds, the ministry plans to provide free transportation services to funeral attendees.
This, the minister said, would help many travellers explore the various tourist facilities in the particular town or city where the funeral is being hosted.
“And then we can also bus those attending the funeral. For example, if there’s a funeral here, we will make an announcement that there’s a bus.
“You can go to Bonwire; the kente is there,people are selling kente there, there are sandals, and when you go there, you will spend the money .
“We will bus them for free when you go to that area. When they go to that area, there are restaurants and bars where they will eat. They will buy water, they will buy artefacts, and they are enriching the rural economy by providing jobs”, Dr Awal added.
“That’s why we want to say take advantage of funerals to explore tourist attractions and to deepen cultural assets, thereby creating jobs for our youth .
Osman Bukari has voiced his disappointment following Red Star Belgrade’s loss to European champions Manchester City in the opening match of theUEFA Champions League.
The Ghanaian international scored a remarkable goal to open the scoring in an exhilarating match at the Etihad on Tuesday night, marking his first goal in the competition’s group stage.
Nevertheless, a resilient comeback from the treble-winning Manchester City squad resulted in Red Star’s defeat as they returned to Serbia.
“Unfortunately, not the results we wanted but we will come back stronger! Thank you all for the support!,” wrote Bukari on social media after the match.
At the stroke of halftime, the 24-year-old provided the Serbian champions with a lead by skillfully beating the offside trap.
In the early stages of the second half, City responded with a goal from Argentine forward Julian Alvarez.
The 2022 World Cup winner gave Manchester City their first lead of the game at the hour mark, and Rodri secured the victory late in the match.
Despite the defeat, Red Star Belgrade’s manager, Barak Bahar, expressed pride in Bukari and his fellow teammates for their commendable performance in England.
“After the lead at halftime, I told the team that they had to keep playing, because I knew that Manchester City would press in the second half. They scored quickly in the second half but we were brave and kept fighting.
“We tried to press, but we didn’t succeed because their ball moves incredibly. We fought, we can look in the mirror and I’m proud of the team. We will transfer this energy to the next game,” he said after the game, as quoted by crvenazvezdafk.com.
As previously reported by Sports Brief, Bukari achieved his maiden goal in the UEFA Champions League group stage by opening the scoring during the match againstManchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The Ghanaian forward, who represents the Black Stars, found the net just before halftime after skillfully evading the offside trap to connect with a pass from Mirko Ivanic.
Bukari played a pivotal role in Red Star Belgrade’s qualification for the group stage, delivering outstanding performances throughout the qualifiers.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has acknowledged the challenges of stepping into the shoes of David de Gea, especially after a tough start to the season.
In the English Premier League, the Cameroonian has already conceded 10 goals in five games, including three in a recent loss to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Despite his difficulties, the 27-year-old accompanied the Red Devils to Germany for their UEFA Champions League opener against Bayern Munich in Group A on Wednesday.
Onana started by expressing his delight at being a part of Manchester United and emphasising the unity within the team.
“Replacing David [De Gea] is not something easy. I am trying to do my best,” he said at the pre-match press conference.
The ex-Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper maintains his confidence that the team will bounce back from their sluggish start, starting with the match in Munich.
“Of course, the start of the season is not what we want. Better days will come, the situation will turn and I am very confident. I know everything will be alright,” he added.
Onana arrived in the summer transfer window from Inter Milan after leading the Italian giants to the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League, as reported by Manchester United’s official website.
Onana gets FIFA best goalkeeper nomination
Sports Brief has previously reported on Morocco’s Yassine Bounou and Cameroon’s Onana being nominated for FIFA’s ‘best goalkeeper award’ after stellar years under review.
The Africans excelled at both club and country and will battle with Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Ederson ofManchester City for the award.
Onana, currently a member of Manchester United, guided Inter Milan to the Champions League final, while Bounou played a pivotal role as Morocco achieved a historic feat by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
Several enthusiastic Galatasaray fans attempted to disrupt the sleep of Copenhagen players on Tuesday night by igniting a substantial quantity of fireworks near their hotel.
However, there was a significant issue: they had mistakenly targeted the wrong hotel.
To emphasise their ambition to disturb the travelling players’ sleep ahead of their Champions League clash, the Turkish supporters posted a video on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) with the message: “Welcome to Hell, FC Copenhagen”.
Daniel Rommedahl, Copenhagen’s director of football operations and international affairs, commented on the incident, noting that the Galatasaray fans had indeed arrived at the incorrect hotel.
Rommedahl has further commented on the incident to Bold.dk: “We haven’t heard anything, and when I look at the video, I can clearly see that it’s definitely not (where we’re staying).”
“It is 100 percent certain that it is not near. It’s also not our sponsor hotel or the hotel for the under-19 team, so whoever is staying there… God knows,” he added.
Lionel Messi reportedly made a harsh comment about his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Vitinha, which led to the midfielder’s desire to leave the club.
In early 2023, Messi and Vitinha had an exchange of words during training, during which Messi directed a pointed criticism towards his fellow teammate.
It took the persuasion of his compatriot Danilo Pereira to convince the Portuguese midfielder to remain with the team.
According to a report from French newspaper L’Equipe, Messi told Vitinha: “Not only are you bad, but you’re also hurting me.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTtafmiLeBE
Vitinha had a challenging debut season in Paris after his transfer from Porto in July 2022. Despite being a regular starter under Christophe Galtier, he faced strong criticism from both fans and, apparently, teammates due to his inconsistent performances.
Vitinha, who delivered a memorable performance against Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, is scheduled to feature for PSG in their upcoming Ligue 1 match against Marseille this weekend.
Meanwhile, Messi is set to make his return to theInter Miami first team in their match against Toronto tonight.
“Another achievement from our selfless and inspiring Board Chairman. Congratulations on your appointment to the board of the WORLD TRADE CENTRES ASSOCIATION as a DIRECTOR.
Hearts of Oak congratulates you, sir”, a club statement reads.
Togbe has held the position of Executive Chairman at the World Trade Centre in Accra and was elected as a member of the board of directors of the World Trade Centre in 2015.
He established SAS Finance Group Ltd., which encompasses Strategic African Securities Ltd., a stock brokerage and corporate finance advisory firm, as well as SAS Investment Management Ltd., an asset management firm.
The President of the Asogli Traditional Area also founded Strategic Initiatives Ltd (SIL), a portfolio and private equity investment firm, and played a key role in the founding of Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Ltd, Databank Financial Services, and Africa World Airlines Ltd.
Notably, Togbe Afede is a co-pilot of the Embraer 145 aircraft for Africa World Airlines and piloted its inaugural landing at Ho Airport in April 2021.
Luis Rubiales reportedly exerted pressure on a press officer of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to claim that Jenni Hermoso had authorised statements absolving him of wrongdoing.
Following the controversial kiss Rubiales gave Hermoso after Spain’s Women’s World Cup final victory against England, the RFEF released a statement asserting that the star player had given her consent to the then-RFEF president.
According to El Confidencial, Rubiales and his father allegedly pressured the head of the Spain women’s team’s press office to provide written confirmation that Hermoso had indeed authorised the release of the statements that downplayed the controversy.
It is claimed that this testimony from Patricia Perez, who heads the communications department, was subsequently used by the RFEF’s Integrity Department to issue a favourable ruling for Rubiales.
Rubiales initially resisted calls to resign from his position and was suspended by FIFA for 90 days before eventually stepping down.
Perez was reportedly summoned to a meeting that included Rubiales, his father, and other members of the RFEF and its Integrity Department.
She is reported to have said that “since the press was asking about the kiss, it was proposed by the Communication Department to release some statements about it, and once approved by [Hermoso], they were sent to the media”.
However, Hermoso had said on an Instagram Live after the final that she did not like Rubiales’ actions and later clarified in a statement of her own: “I feel obliged to report that Mr. Rubiales’ words explaining the unfortunate incident are categorically false and part of the manipulative culture that he himself has generated. The kiss was never consensual.”
She criticised the RFEF once more, as well as the new coach, Montse Tome, for maintaining that they are safeguarding her by not including the star player in the national team’s lineup for this month.
In the 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers, Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, secured a resounding 7-0 victory over Rwanda at the Kigali Pele Stadium.
Under the guidance of Coach Nora Hauptle, the team wasted no time in opening the scoring, with Doris Boaduwaa heading in a corner kick in just the second minute of the game.
Evelyn Badu, a striker for the team, went on to score the second goal and complete a brace in the 65th minute.
Princella Adubea added to Ghana’s tally in the first half, while Alice Kusi contributed another goal after the halftime break, finding the net in the 53rd minute.
Asathesia Achiaa also had a standout performance, scoring a double in the match, with her final goal being an unexpected surprise as her seemingly weak cross managed to beat the Rwandan goalkeeper, sealing the 7-0 victory.
This match marked Ghana’s first game in the qualifiers as they launched their campaign for the 2024 Women’s AFCON Qualifiers.
The Black Queens are set to host their Rwandan opponents in Accra on September 26, as part of the two-legged fixture that will determine which team advances to the next round.
The winner of the Ghana-Rwanda matchup will then face the victor of the match between The Gambia and Namibia in the second round of the qualifiers.
Notably, Ghana missed out on the previous edition of the tournament after a 2-1 aggregate loss to Nigeria over two legs.
Under the guidance of Coach Nora Hauptle, the Black Queens are eager to secure qualification for the 2024 Women’s AFCON, which is set to be hosted in Morocco.
Michal Probierz (50) has taken over as the coach of Poland’s national team, as confirmed by the Polish Football Association (PZPN) on Wednesday.
This change comes after Poland and Portuguese coach Fernando Santos (68) parted ways last week following their 2-0 loss to Albania, which significantly hampered their chances of qualifyingfor Euro 2024.
“Michal Probierz has been appointed selector of the Polish national team. This is the best possible choice. I wish the new coach good luck,” PZPN President Cezary Kulesza said in a statement.
Probierz has a successful track record, having secured the Polish Cup and Super Cup titles twice each with Jagiellonia Bialystok and Cracovia. He has been in charge of the national Under-21 side since July 2022.
Probierz’s contract as the new manager will be effective until the conclusion of the qualifying period for the 2026 World Cup. Despite following in the footsteps of the high-profile appointment of Santos, Probierz acknowledged that his selection may not receive universal acclaim.
“I know that I am in many cases a controversial person, for many my choice was not obvious,” the new manager told reporters at his presentation on Wednesday.
“But I would like to thank the board for their support, it is important that people believe in me.
“I coached many players who are in the squad today, such as Lukasz Skorupski. It’s not like I am a random coach, so I ask the fans to hold off on their assessments.”
Former Poland Under-21 coach Michal Probierz will assume the managerial role for the upcoming round of qualifiers in October. Poland is scheduled to travel to the Faroe Islands and host Moldova during this period.
While leading the Under-21 team, Probierz had an auspicious start to their qualification campaign for the 2025 European Championship, securing two victories in as many matches.
However, he now faces the task of revitalizing the senior team’s performance.
In Group E, Poland currently occupies the fourth position, having accumulated six points from five matches. They trail group leaders Albania by four points and are two points behind both theCzech Republic and Moldova, who are in second place.
“We will give the coach all the tools needed. We believe that we will go to the European Championships,” PZPN President Kulesza said.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concern, stating that his team is facing a challenging situation following the injury to Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva (29).
Silva, who recently extended his contract with City until 2026, had to leave the field before halftime during City’s 3-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade in their Champions League opening match on Tuesday.
City is already dealing with the absence of crucial players like Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Jack Grealish, and Mateo Kovacic, all of whom are sidelined due to injuries.
“He (Silva) didn’t say anything at the end,” Guardiola said.
“I didn’t speak with the doctors, but apparently, for the next games, he won’t be able to play.”
Premier League leaders Manchester City next host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, looking to make it six wins from six, but Guardiola is worried about the impact of having so many key players absent at the same time.
“We are in trouble but I am not going to say, ‘Oh, we have a lot of injuries,’”he told reporters.
“When we have five important players—really, really important players—injured. To sustain that for a long time will be difficult. But it is what it is.”
The Morocco international expressed his support for Mbappe to secure football’s most prestigious individual accolade for the first time.
This endorsement comes in light of Mbappe’s exceptional performance in the early part of the season, notably contributing to PSG’s 2-0 triumph over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Messi is currently leading the race to secure his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or award, notably achieving success by winning the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar last year.
Haaland is also a strong contender, having scored an impressive 56 goals during his debut season with Manchester City, leading them to a treble.
Despite missing out on the World Cup title as France fell to Argentina in the 2023 final, Mbappe emerged as the tournament’s top scorer.
Additionally, he netted an impressive 41 goals for PSG during the 2022–23 club season.
Luis Enrique’s team is set to return to action on Sunday in a Ligue 1 match against Marseille.
Gabriel Jesus has revealed his “secret agent” role in convincing “his brother,” Oleksandr Zinchenko, to join Arsenal.
Both players departed from Manchester City to join Arsenal last summer, with Jesus being the initial transfer. Following that, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu visited Zinchenko’s residence to negotiate his transfer.
Jesus told a news conference ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven: “I was in Manchester, at home with my family and I was supposed to come to London the day after and come in by car.
“Edu just texted me and said they were going to Zinny’s house; if I want to come to join them to talk with Zin, then I come by plane. So I say, ‘OK.’ I went there and talked with him. He was surprised.
“If I helped a little bit and he took the decision to come, I am happy because I like him as a player, as a person. I treat him as a brother and I am very happy he came. He is playing good, playing every time and more than this, he is very happy, so I’m happy for him.
“I just said ‘Zina, you have to take a decision like I did and I am happy with this.’ He was a little bit ‘I don’t know, I need to talk with my wife first’ but he took the decision [to come]. I think if you ask him, it was the right decision.”
Pushed on how Zinchenko has described him as a “secret agent,” Jesus joked: “Yeah, he can give me some percent [of the money]!”
Following an impressive breakthrough season in 2022/23, Barcelona has moved swiftly to secure the future of one of their youth talents.
Alejandro Balde has committed his future to FC Barcelona by agreeing to a new contract that binds him to the club until June 2028.
The 19-year-old left-back’s fresh contract includes a staggering release clause of €1 billion.
Balde, who has quickly risen to prominence, is set to formally sign the contract during a presentation scheduled for Thursday, where he will be joined by club president Joan Laporta.
As per a club announcement, this event will take place at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and is scheduled to commence at 13:15 (CEST).
The young talent began featuring in competitive matches for Barcelona’s senior squad in the 2021/22 season, making his debut against Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 2021.
In recent seasons, Balde has consistently improved and established himself as the first-choice left-back in the 2022/23 season, ahead of seasoned veterans like Jordi Alba and Marcos Alonso.
Balde’s fresh contract stands as a testament to his remarkable ascent through the ranks at Barcelona. After joining the club’s youth academy in 2011, he made swift progress to reach the first team.
In total, Balde has accumulated 55 appearances for theBarcelona first team, contributing one goal and six assists. His performances have earned him praise from both fans and experts, and this new contract reflects the club’s confidence in his potential.
With Balde’s future secured, Barcelona’s next focus will likely be securing the future of another young player, with Lamine Yamal reportedly high on their list of priorities.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has officially acknowledged that the club holds an option to bring back strikerHarry Kane as part of his transfer to Bayern Munich.
Kane, aged 30, concluded his nearly two-decade-long association with Spurs this past summer by agreeing to a €120 million move to the Bundesliga champions.
During a fan forum event on Tuesday, which was attended by various individuals, including head coach Ange Postecoglou, Levy was prompted to confirm the existence of this clause after initially avoiding the question from an audience member.
In response, Levy stated, “Of course,” thereby acknowledging the possibility ofKane’s return to the club.
Lo Celso, aged 27, initially joined Spurs from Betis in the summer of 2019, initially on loan, before the Premier League club exercised their option to make the move permanent.
During his time at Spurs, the attacking midfielder made 84 appearances in various competitions, contributing nine goals, but he eventually lost his place in the squad.
Over the past 18 months, the Argentina international has been on loan with Villarreal in La Liga, where he has made 51 appearances. However, this season, he has only played for 16 minutes with Spurs, as no club was willing to meet their €20 million valuation during the summer transfer window.
According to reports, both Barcelona and Betis may revisit the possibility in January to check if Tottenham has reconsidered its asking price.
Premier League clubs are lining up to secure the services of Ivan Toney, with Brentford manager Thomas Frank acknowledging the possibility of the striker departing in January.
Toney, aged 27, has returned to training this week after completing the initial part of an eight-month suspension for a breach of betting regulations. His eligibility to play will be reinstated on January 16, sparking what is expected to be a competitive pursuit of his signature.
According to The Daily Mirror, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur are all preparing offers for Toney, a player who netted 20 Premier League goals in the previous season and earned his England debut against Ukraine in March.
Frank has hinted that it would require a substantial fee for Brentford to consider letting the player go, and the interest from multiple clubs is likely to drive up the transfer valuation. He argued that with midfielders like Declan Rice moving for £100 million, a striker of Toney’s calibre should command a similar price tag.
The Daily Mirror suggests a transfer fee of at least £60 million, consideringToney will have just 18 months remaining on his current contract, whereas Rice was under a long-term agreement.
Maddison has had a promising beginning to his time in North London since his transfer from Leicester City over the summer.
However, during a fans’ forum on Tuesday evening, Spurs chairman Levy humorously teased him about his car selection.
The Tottenham chief said: “James needs to learn that he can’t come to the training ground in a red car. I’ve told him. He’ll learn.”
England international Maddison is already looking like one of the bargain buys of the summer at £40m ($50m). The 26-year-old has recorded two goals and two assists in his first fivePremier League appearances for Ange Postecoglou’s side, helping them rise to second in the table.
Elsewhere, Levy was also questioned on a number of other topics at the club and labelled the appointments of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho as “mistakes” while also revealing that there was a buy-back clause inserted in Harry Kane’s contract when he joined Bayern Munich in the summer.
Postecoglou will face his biggest test yet asTottenham boss when his team travels to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday to face Arsenal in the first north London derby of the season.
Youth team coach from Liverpool, Steven Appleton, has openly expressed his deep fondness and admiration for the comedic talent and abilities of renowned Ghanaian actor Akwasi Boadi Akrobeto.
Appleton, who is currently in Ghana for scouting purposes, holds Akrobeto in high regard and couldn’t contain his excitement when he had the opportunity to meet Akrobeto on his Real News show on UTV.
When quizzed by Akrobeto if he had any knowledge of him and his show prior to appearing on it, Steven Appleton remarked, “You are very popular in the UK with your programme.
“It’s an honour to meet you,”.
Akrobeto has achieved international fame thanks to his unique and comical approach to presenting fixtures and results for major matches on his programme.
The award-winning actor has consistently been featured on prominent international media platforms, showcasing his remarkable comedic skills.
His videos have garnered attention from globally renowned footballers such as Daniel Sturridge and Rio Ferdinand, both of whom have confirmed themselves as big fans of his work.
In August 2022, Rio Ferdinand, a Manchester United legend, shared how people were using Akrobeto’s videos to tease him following Manchester United’s 4-0 loss to Brentford.
Ferdinand took to Twitter to reveal that individuals were sending him videos of Ghanaian comedian Akrobeto playfully mocking his former club.
In 2021, Akrobeto became a viral sensation after appearing in a fixture announcement video for Russian club Spartak Moscow.
The club utilised a humorous video featuring the comic actor to unveil the fixtures for the 2021/22 Russian Premier League season.
Complete destruction for Pogba, he should just retire Emmanuel Petit advises
The 30-year-old midfielder from Juventus is currently undergoing solo training in Turin after receiving a precautionary suspension from the Anti-Doping Tribunal in Italy due to a positive test for testosterone.
Pogba is awaiting the results of a counter-analysis scheduled for October 5, following the initial positive test in September.
Reports from Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that Pogba is staying at a villa in Turin, which was previously inhabited by former Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo, as he awaits the resolution of the situation.
The French international has access to facilities including a pool, a gym, and an outdoor pitch to maintain his fitness.
In the event that Pogba is not cleared after the second sample analysis, there may be a further investigation into the supplements he reportedly took under the guidance of an American doctor.
If found guilty, Pogba could potentially face a football ban of up to four years.
Speaking on Betway, former Arsenal player Petit advised Pogba to consider retirement if the worst-case scenario becomes a reality. Petit also opined that Pogba’s career has been on a downward trajectory since his departure from Manchester United in 2022.
Petit said: “Paul Pogba should definitely retire if he is given a four-year ban. When you are suspended for that long, you can’t even come to the training ground. That leaves you going to the gym or the park with no teammates, no balls, and nothing. Four years for a 30-year-old player is a long time.
Emmanuel-Petit
“His time at Manchester United didn’t end well, and in France, we think he’s been a disaster since then. Forget football, forget money, it’s a disaster for him. He’s completely destroyed. He’s nothing like the Pogba we used to know. There’s no way he’ll be back in high-level football.” Pogba’s returnto Juventus has been marred by a string of injuries, limiting his availability to just eight Serie A appearances over the last two seasons.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested that Jadon Sancho’s struggles atManchester United are a result of competition from Marcus Rashford, particularly on the left-wing.
The former Manchester United manager believes that Sancho thrives when playing on the left but has had limited opportunities due to Rashford’s impressive goal-scoring performance, with Rashford being the top scorer for United in all competitions last season.
Solskjaer, who signed Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021, has also commented on the harsh criticism directed at Harry Maguire, expressing his belief that such criticism is unjust considering Maguire’s dedication and contributions to the club in recent years.
“Yes, I wanted to sign him [Sancho]. Manchester United will never sign a player the manager doesn’t want,” Solskjaer told The Athletic. “That’s not the case everywhere. Jadon was put up as the No 1 target for the right wing by the scouts and when you look at his talent, I could see why.”Unfortunately, it has not worked out.
“When he arrived, he had to go to hospital and that was a setback as he couldn’t start the first games. He’s immensely talented and we haven’t seen the best of him. I hope we do, but he prefers to play left wing… where Marcus plays.”
He then went on to talk about the abuse of Maguire has faced, adding: “It’s a disgrace that he’s getting so much abuse. I feel sorry for him, but he’s a strong lad and I hope it turns for him. He raised our defence big time when he arrived and lifted the mood around the place.”
Maguire and Sancho were acquired for a total transfer fee exceeding £153 million ($189 million). Both of these English internationals have faced challenges during their time at Old Trafford.
Maguire was frequently linked with a potential departure during the summer transfer window, while Sancho was publicly embroiled in a disagreement with the current manager, Erik ten Hag, regarding his training commitment.
This change comes after the original date of September 27 in Tamale had to be adjusted, possibly due to a court injunction initiated by King Faisal.
In accordance with Article 33 of the GFA Statutes 2019, the Executive Council of the Association has made the decision to move the Extraordinary Session of Congress to October 5, 2023.
The Congress is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. and will be conducted at the Global Dream Hotel in Tamale.
The Official List of Candidates for the GFA Elections 2023 has already been released by the Elections Committee.
The agenda for the Congress, in accordance with Article 33 of the GFA Statutes, includes:
– Opening Prayer – Roll Call – Declaration of Congress compliance with the Statutes – Approval of the Agenda – Handing over of Congress to GFA Elections Committee – Announcement of Election Procedure by GFA Elections Committee – Election of GFA President – Election of Executive Council Member (1 Women’s Premier League Representative) – Election of Executive Council Members (3 Division One League Representatives) – Election of Executive Council Members (5Premier League Representatives) – Swearing in of the President and the Executive Council Members – Brief speech by the elected President – Closing Prayer
Afriyie, who aspired to become GFA President, was disqualified from the elections due to his failure to meet the required nomination criteria set by the GFA elections’ vetting committee.
Despite appealing his disqualification to the Appeals Committee in hopes of reversing the decision, Afriyie’s appeal was ultimately rejected.
As a result, with the current GFA president, Kurt Okraku, poised to run uncontested, Countryman Songo is calling on the vetting committee to reconsider their decision and allow George Afriyie to participate in the electoral competition.
Songo stated, “How can the GFA president run unopposed? It’s not fair; there should be competition. Competition is vital in situations like this. No one should bypass the electoral process while others face injustice. We want Ghana football to thrive.”
He pointed out that in the run-up to the 2016 General Election, Paa Kwesi Nduom, the former PPP flagbearer, encountered a comparable disqualification by the Electoral Commission.
Nevertheless, the courts sided with him, permitting him to rectify mistakes in his nomination documents and participate in the elections.
“Even during the general elections, Paa Kwesi Nduom was disqualified, and he took the matter to the appeals committee. The court ruled that he should be allowed to contest because if there is an error in his application forms, he needs more time to correct them. So why disqualify George Afriyie?” Songo questioned.
Meanwhile,George Afriyie is reportedly planning to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
His second stint began on a high note, with the Portuguese star scoring twice in his homecoming match against Newcastle.
However, Manchester United’s performance gradually declined, leading to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal just four months into the 2021–22 season.
The former United manager has since acknowledged that his choice to bring Ronaldo back was a regrettable decision, and he has offered insights into the circumstances that ultimately led to the unfortunate conclusion of his tenure.
Speaking to The Athletic, Solskjaer said: “It was a decision that was very difficult to turn down and I felt we had to take it, but it turned out wrong.
It felt so right when he signed and the fans felt that at that Newcastle game when Old Trafford was rocking (after Ronaldo scored twice in a 4-1 win). He was still one of the best goal scorers in the world, and he was looking strong.
“When I looked at the fixtures, it was going to be a deciding period: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Leicester away. Then Chelsea and Arsenal, plus Champions League games Things went against us.
“It started with Aston Villa at home (a 1-0 defeat) and a late penalty miss. When you have a group, you need everyone to pull in the same direction. When things didn’t go right, you could see certain players and egos come out. We beat Tottenham convincingly 3-0 away, but then we lost two games.”
In his first season back atManchester United, Ronaldo scored 24 goals and contributed three assists in 38 appearances. However, despite his efforts, the team recorded its lowest-ever Premier League points total.
Subsequently, Erik ten Hag was brought in to replace Solskjaer, and during the early stages of the 2022–23 season, Ronaldo found himself sidelined.
The Portuguese striker attracted controversy both on and off the field as he expressed frustration about his limited playing time. His situation escalated after a contentious interview with Piers Morgan, in which he criticised Ten Hag and his teammates. This eventually led to the termination of his contract by mutual agreement, and Ronaldo subsequently joined Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, contributing to a trend of top European talent heading to the Middle East.
Ten Hag’s team, which has won only twice in their first five Premier League matches, is set to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.Meanwhile, Ronaldo will return to action in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Nassr against Al-Ahli Saudi on Friday.
While multiple media outlets in Kumasi have stated that Appiah has agreed to a three-year deal with the Sudanese team, sources close to the former Black Stars defender indicate that the deal is nearing completion but hasn’t been finalised yet.
According to these sources, Kwasi Appiah has indeed agreed to the terms but wishes to complete his responsibilities with Kumasi Asante Kotoko before officially putting pen to paper.
It’s reported that Appiah, who currently leads the Interim Management Committee of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, seeks the approval of Otumfuo Osei Tutu before giving the final nod for the Sudan coaching role.
It’s worth noting that in August 2023, the Asantehene appointed Kwasi Appiah as the head of a three-member committee to oversee the affairs of Asante Kotoko temporarily.
For the past month, Appiah, along with Emmanuel Dasoberi and Prosper Narteh Ogum, has been managing the club.
Furthermore, Kwasi Appiah is also in the running for the Ghana Football Association election scheduled for October.
James Kwesi Appiah, born on June 30, 1960, is a Ghanaian football coach and former player with a rich history in the sport. He managed Ghana’s national team between 2017 and 2019.
As a player, Appiah was a left-back who played for Asante Kotoko from 1983 to 1993 and represented the Ghanaian national team between 1987 and 1992, even captaining the team.
Appiah’s coaching career includes stints as Ghana’s U23 coach, where he guided the team to victory in the 2011 All-Africa Games. He took on the role of Head Coach of the Ghanaian national team in April 2012, a position he held until September 2014.
During his tenure, he led Ghana to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, becoming the first black African coach to achieve this feat.
He returned as Ghana’s national team coach in April 2017, succeeding Avram Grant. Additionally, Appiah had experience coaching Sudanese club Al Khartoum in December 2014.
Barcelona’s manager, Xavi, praised the exceptional contribution of Ilkay Gundogan, describing the German midfielder’s impact as nothing short of miraculous.
This accolade came after Gundogan provided an assist during Barcelona’s dominant 5-0 victory in their Champions League group stage debut against Royal Antwerp on Tuesday.
Xavi went on to emphasise that signing Gundogan felt like a gift from the heavens.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Xavi said: “When Gundo has the ball, everything gets better. As simple as that. He does everything well—absolutely everything.
“If we play good is because of guys like him. His signing was heaven-sent, honestly. A superlative player, a total joy to watch.”
While Ilkay Gundogan’s performance was noteworthy, it was somewhat overshadowed by Joao Felix’s exceptional showing.
The Portuguese forward, who has been in scintillating form since his last-minute loan move from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona, scored twice against Antwerp and also contributed an assist for Robert Lewandowski’s goal.
Chelsea’s current injury crisis has come under scrutiny from Trevoh Chalobah’s personal trainer, Ed Hodge, who publicly expressed his frustration, describing the situation as an “absolute mess.”
Hodge’s comments were shared through a now-deleted Twitter post that included what appeared to be a private Instagram conversation.
Chelsea, who are in a rebuilding phase under Mauricio Pochettino, have experienced difficulties with injuries, including key players such as summer signings Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Christopher Nkunku.
Hodge seemingly attributed the high number of injuries to the medical staff, holding them responsible for the crisis.
“Most of the injuries are because the players have been loading muscles time and time again without lengthening them simultaneously… then one lunge into a tackle, or a COD too rapidly and they’re injured,” he wrote.
“Hardly any of them do reformer Pilates or terrain work (i.e. stair sprints & hill sprints to strengthen knee ligaments). It’s an absolute mess at the moment, bro.”
Chalobah suffered a hamstring injury during training inAugust, sidelining him for a period. Nevertheless, Hodge disclosed that he is nearing the end of his recovery and may soon be ready to return.
Chelsea will be back in action against Aston Villa on Sunday in the Premier League.
In Riyadh on Monday, Al Hilal managed to salvage a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan’s Navbahor in the Asian Champions League, thanks to Ali Al-Bulaihi’s equaliser coming 10 minutes into stoppage time.
This match marked Neymar’s first start for the Saudi Pro League side.
The Saudi Arabia international defender, Al Bulaihi, rose to head in a cross from Brazilian winger Michael, cancelling out Toma Tabatadze’s earlier strike in the 52nd minute of the Group D encounter.
It appeared that Samvel Babayan’s team was heading for an unlikely victory before Al Bulaihi’s late goal.
Neymar, who arrived in Saudi Arabia with much fanfare over the summer, was in the starting lineup for the first time following his €90 million ($96 million) move from Paris Saint-Germain.
However, he faced frustration throughout the match.
The game looked destined to end in a defeat for Neymar and his team until Al Bulaihi’s header, which came during more than 14 minutes of injury time, finally ended Navbahor’s determined resistance against their expensively assembled opponents.
In the Asian Champions League, only the group winners among the 40 participating teams are assured of progressing to the last 16.
Currently, Al Hilal is trailing debutants Nassaji Mazandaran in the early group standings.
The Iranians currently lead the group after securing a 2-0 victory over India’s Mumbai City in Pune, with goals from Ehsan Hosseini and Mohammad Reza Azadi in each half.
Meanwhile, Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad had no difficulties in Group C, as they comfortably won 3-0 against AGMK from Uzbekistan, even though coach Nuno Espirito Santo did not include former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema in the squad.
Al Ittihad’s perfect start in Jeddah began with Haroune Camara’s 11th-minute goal after goalkeeper Botirali Ergashev’s save. Four minutes later, Romarinho doubled the lead with a composed close-range finish.
The Brazilian then added a third from the penalty spot just before halftime, following a foul on Abderazzak Hamdallah in the area by Dilshodbek Akhmadaliev.
Al-Ittihad now leads the table, as Air Force Club played out a 2-2 draw with Sepahan from Iran, with 19-year-old Ali Jassim scoring twice for the Iraqi side in Erbil.
In addition, Nasaf Quarshi from Uzbekistan secured a late 1-0 win over Jordan’s Al-Faisaly to top Group B ahead of Qatar’s Al Sadd and Sharjah from the United Arab Emirates, who played out a goalless draw.
Jude Bellingham, aged 20, has made an incredible start to his tenure in theSpanish capital with Real Madrid. He scored on his debut and has continued this scoring streak in four of the five subsequent matches.
The English midfielder has netted five goals in as many La Liga games, making a significant impact after his €103 million (£89 million) transfer from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Real Madrid has maintained a flawless record in its initial domestic matches this season. However, their true challenge begins with the commencement of the Champions League this week.
In the highly anticipated competition, Bellingham, at 20 years old, is poised to make his “second” debut for Los Blancos against Union Berlin on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid places immense value on this tournament, having been defeated 4-0 by Manchester City in the second leg of last season’s semi-final, ultimately losing 5-1 on aggregate.
The acquisition of Bellingham was, in part, a response to that humbling defeat.
Madrid have started reducing minutes for their veteran players in midfield—Luka Modric and Toni Kroos—while allowing Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde more opportunities.
Bellingham adds to the tougher core of Madrid’s sport this season, shorn of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who departed for a new adventure in Saudi Arabian football in the summer.
Facing a Bundesliga side in Europe, Bellingham should feel comfortable, although it has become clear that he has already made himself at home.
In his first appearance at the hallowed Bernabeu, the England international nearly blew the stadium’s new roof off with a last gasp 95th minute strike to earn Madrid a narrow win over Getafe in a derby on September 2.
Jude Bellingham
Wearing the No. 5 on his back in tribute to Zinedine Zidane, Bellingham has quickly become a fan favourite at Madrid.
Celebrating his goals with his arms open wide, as if to share his joy with the supporters, he has instantly taken to him in a way that never happened with Welsh winger Gareth Bale.
Bellingham has been serenaded with the chorus of the Beatles song “Hey Jude”, which he said was a special moment.
“When they sang ‘Hey Jude’ at the end, I got goosebumps,” he told Real Madrid TV after the win over Getafe.
“I just wanted to turn and stand still and listen to it while my legs were shaking.”
Bellingham nodded to Spanish culture with a matador’s flag-waving gesture after dodging an attempted barge by a Getafe player.
“Good players with personalities suffer a bit less than the others,” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, when asked how Bellingham had clicked so quickly.
“There’s no other reason. A player with personality, above all, more than quality, means that an important shirt like Real Madrid’s doesn’t weigh so much.”
That personality was on display when he led England to the World Cup quarterfinals last year in Qatar at only 19.
Thus far, Ancelotti has deployed Bellingham as a number 10, providing a strong physical presence in the area behind the nimble Brazilian duo of Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, the latter of whom is currently injured.
The only match in which he has not scored was Sunday’s 2-1 comeback victory over Real Sociedad, where he dropped deeper and got stuck in the midfield battle.
“He had a consistent game, he didn’t get into the box until right at the end but he was involved throughout, working a lot,” said Ancelotti.
Bellingham’s goals have replaced Benzema’s; he has played more like the French forward than Les Bleus icon Zidane since joining the club.
However, with Mbappe’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, it would have been a big and potentially unnecessary investment for Madrid, which they thought better of.
Bellingham’s goals were the final nail in that coffin, as he showed he can make the difference in the opposition box in the attacking position Ancelotti has created for him.
Perhaps Mbappe will arrive next summer, and perhaps a new coach will change Bellingham’s role once Ancelotti takes over the Brazilian national team, but in the short term, the current setup has suited coach and player just fine.
A 58-year-old Newcastle United supporter, who is a British national, is in stable condition at a hospital after being attacked by a group of hooded assailants in Milan on the eve of the team’sChampions League match against AC Milan, as reported by Italian police on Tuesday.
The attack occurred in the Navigli district of the city, a popular canalside area known for its nightlife. The fan suffered stab wounds to the arm and back, with the back injury being the more severe.
However, the victim is expected to be discharged from the Policlinco hospital within the next few hours, according to a police spokesperson.
The incident took place while the victim was with a friend, and it involved a group of seven or eight individuals wearing hoods and concealing their faces.
Newcastle United expressed their deep concern over the reports of the stabbing in a statement provided to the British media.
“We are liaising with local authorities to understand the circumstances. Our thoughts are with the supporter and their family and we hope for a full and speedy recovery,” the statement added.
Milan has not provided any comment on the matter.
Newcastle is set to confront Milan, the seven-time European Cup winners, in Group F at the San Siro later on Tuesday. This marks the English side’s return to Europe’s premier club competition after an absence of 20 years.
Jenni Hermoso, aged 33, expressed her belief that the decision to include players who are participating in the Spanish women’s team boycott is evidence that “nothing has changed” within the country’s football federation (RFEF), even after the resignation of its president due to theWomen’s World Cup kiss controversy.
Despite the majority of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad being named on the roster for upcoming matches, the players have announced their intention to maintain their boycott.
This boycott was initiated following an incident where Luis Rubiales, the former RFEF president, kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation ceremony in Australia.
If the players decline the call-up, they could potentially face fines of up to 30,000 euros and the suspension of their federation licence for a duration ranging from two to 15 years under Spain’s Sports Act.
Comunicado en relación a los últimos acontecimientos del día de hoy // Official Statement regarding today's latest events #SeAcabópic.twitter.com/OXMmfyPGz5
The RFEF did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment outside of regular business hours.
In a statement released earlier on Monday, the federation expressed its belief in the necessity of “structural changes” and emphasized the need to identify those accountable for the behavior highlighted by the players.
Montse Tome, who has taken over as the coach of the national team, indicated that Jenni Hermoso was omitted from the squad due to the significant media scrutiny she had endured over the past month.
“We stand with Jenni. We believe that the best way to protect her is like this, but we are counting on Jenni,” Tome said.
Hermoso asked who she needed protection from.
“A claim was made today stating that the environment within the federation would be safe for my colleagues to rejoin yet at the press conference it was announced that they were not calling me as a means to protect me,” she said.
The 64-year-old manager ofReal Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, emphasised on Tuesday that his team never regards themselves as favourites to win the Champions League, despite their illustrious history in the competition.
He pointed out that bookmakers are favouring the defending champions, Manchester City.
Real Madrid, who secured their 14th European Cup victory in 2022 but were defeated by Manchester City in the semi-finals last season, are set to kick off their Group C campaign with a home match against Union Berlin on Wednesday.
In addition to Union Berlin, they will also face Napoli, the Serie A champions, and Braga from Portugal during the group stage.
“City are favourites because they have a squad that saw them win it last season and they haven’t changed much.
“However, in the Champions League, like always, there are surprises at the end,” Ancelotti told reporters ahead of facing Union at the Bernabeu.
“Real Madrid are a team that is going to fight until the end. We never think of ourselves as favourites, just as I think City don’t. They won it last year, they can win the Champions League.“
Real may be taking on Champions League debutants Union, but Ancelotti stressed they would not take the Germans lightly.
“They’re a new team in the Champions League but the fact they’re here means they’ve done very well. They’re well organised defensively, they’re solid and they play with intensity…,” he said.
“The Champions League is a special competition for us. We’re going to treat tomorrow’s game as something special. We want to get off to a good start in the group stage and we’re playing at home.”
The Italian added that Dani Carvajal (31) would be rested for Wednesday’s game, but said the right back would likely be available for their LaLiga clash at Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
“As things stand today, he has a chance of playing on Sunday. The player’s general condition is pretty good. Lucas Vazquez (32) will play in place of Carvajal (against the Union).”
German midfielder Julian Draxler has completed a transfer from Paris St Germain to Qatari club Al-Ahli SC, signing a two-year contract, as confirmed by both clubs on Monday.
Draxler, who previously played for Wolfsburg and Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga, joined PSG in 2017. During his six seasons with the Ligue 1 club, he made more than 190 appearances.
However, he fell out of favour and spent the last season on loan with Portuguese side Benfica.
PSG released a statement expressing their best wishes for Julian Draxler’s future career.
Draxler, who has 58 international caps and seven goals for Germany, has not played for the national team since March of the previous year.
He was part of the Germany squad that won the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
Two of Draxler’s former teammates, Marco Verratti and Abdou Diallo, have also made moves to Qatar this season, both joining Al-Arabi.
Currently, Al-Ahli holds the 11th position in the Qatar Stars League after suffering three consecutive defeats in their first three league matches.
Eden Hazard has declined an opportunity to join the Belgian Pro League team Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, according to Diario AS.
The Belgian national has been without a club since he and Real Madrid mutually agreed to terminate his contract a year ahead of schedule this summer.
A transfer to Royal Union Saint-Gilloise would have provided the former Chelsea standout with the chance to compete against his brothers, Thorgan and Kylian, who play for Anderlecht and RWDM, respectively, in the Belgium Pro League this season.
However, it is reported that the 32-year-old is keen on continuing to reside in Madrid.
The 27-year-old forward recently resumed training after serving the initial portion of his suspension for betting violations. However, he is still ineligible to play until January 16.
Toney, who earned his first England cap earlier this year, netted 20 Premier League goals in the previous season, drawing attention from Chelsea and Manchester United.
“I think every club in the world is a selling club except five or six clubs,” Frank told Sky Sports. “We are a selling club if the right price is there and I think it’s the right time for the players to go.
“That’s not my decision, that would be down to [director of football] Phil [Giles] or [chairman] Matthew [Benham] in the end.
“But I think if players have developed well with us and been on the journey, and they’ve proven good enough to go to the top clubs, then I think it’s the right thing, if we get the right price.
“I understand why there are a lot of rumours out there about him [Toney]. For me, I think he’s one of the best strikers. As a No. 9, I don’t see many out there in the world who are better.
“Imagine him in a top team. He could easily score 20, 25 goals. I think he’s composed, a good finisher, a top mentality, so I understand why clubs are looking at him.
“But he’s a Brentford player now. And with today’s market and the prices for No. 6 position players, when we all know goal scorers and strikers are the most expensive ones, I guess that would be very expensive – unless it’s changed that you pay more for a No. 6 than a striker.”
